The term 'mala prohibita' refers to what kind of criminal activity?

The term 'mala prohibita' specifically refers to actions that are considered crimes not because they are inherently immoral or evil, but because they violate regulations or laws established by a government or authority. Such activities are viewed as wrong primarily because they are prohibited by statute, rather than due to any intrinsic wrongdoing.

For example, certain regulatory offenses, such as speeding or selling alcohol without a license, fall into this category. While they may be illegal, the acts themselves are not inherently harmful to others in the way that crimes like theft or assault (which are categorized as 'mala in se') are.

This understanding highlights the distinction between legal prohibitions and moral judgments. While other choices may address aspects of criminal law, such as intent or moral reasoning, they do not capture the essence of what defines 'mala prohibita' in the context of legal terminology.