crime against nature

crime against nature
crime against nature: a sexual act (as of bestiality) that is regarded by the law as abnormal; also: the crime of committing such an act

Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law. . 1996.

crime against nature
n.
Sexual intercourse that violates statutorily mandated standards of behavior. See also buggery, sodomy

The Essential Law Dictionary. — Sphinx Publishing, An imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. . 2008.


crime against nature
An archaic term used to describe sexual practices deemed deviant or not natural by a legislature or a court. Examples range from bestiality (intercourse between a human and an animal) to necrophilia (intercourse with a dead body). Few states still have "crime against nature" statutes on the books, and any that still include consensual sexual acts, such as sodomy, between adults are unconstitutional under a 2003 United States Supreme Court decision, Lawrence v. Texas.
Category: Criminal Law
Category: Small Claims Court & Lawsuits

Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary. . 2009.

crime against nature
n.
   an oldfashioned term for sodomy (anal sexual intercourse), which has been a crime in most states. Several states have removed consensual anal intercourse between consenting adults from the crime. However, in Indiana an ex-wife insisted on a criminal charge of sodomy being filed against her former husband, even though the act was consensual and during their marriage; he was convicted. The term is also applied to sexual intercourse between a human and an animal (bestiality), which is a crime in most states.
   See also: bestiality, sodomy

Law dictionary. . 2013.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Crime against nature — This article is about types of sex act. For other meanings see Crime against nature (disambiguation). Contents 1 Current use 1.1 Louisiana …   Wikipedia

  • crime against nature — a sexual act that is regarded by the law as abnormal : sodomy, buggery * * * 1. Law. sodomy. 2. any act considered to be against the laws or designs of nature or one s religious teachings. [1920 25] * * * crime against nature, Law. unnatural… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Crime against nature (disambiguation) — Crime against nature and similar can mean: Crime against nature, a form of sexual behavior that is not considered natural and is seen as a punishable offense in some jurisdictions Acts of animal abuse Acts that are considered to be damaging to… …   Wikipedia

  • crime against nature — 1. Law. sodomy. 2. any act considered to be against the laws or designs of nature or one s religious teachings. [1920 25] * * * …   Universalium

  • a crime against nature —    American    sodomy or bestiality    As proscribed in the laws of many states:     Most states have laws against fornication and even masturbation lying somewhere on their books... One of the most popular phrases is crime against nature ... but …   How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms

  • crime against nature — Date: 1828 sodomy …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • crime against nature — noun Any of various sexual deviations that, at one time or another, have been considered to be so unnatural as to be illegal …   Wiktionary

  • crime against nature — Sodomy; sexual relations with a person of the same sex or with a beast; unnatural sexual relations between persons of the same sex. 48 Am J1st Sod § 1 …   Ballentine's law dictionary

  • against nature — Immoral or unnatural • • • Main Entry: ↑nature * * * unnatural or immoral * * * against ˈnature idiom not natural; not moral • Murder is a crime against nature. Main entry: ↑natureidiom …   Useful english dictionary

  • Against Nature? — Sexual orientationAgainst Nature? is a controversial exhibition on homosexuality in animals made by The Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, Norway. The exhibition focuses on occurrence and function of homosexuality in animals, and is the… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”