Legal Definitions - flagrans crimen

Definition: Flagrans crimen is a Latin term that refers to a crime that is currently being committed or has just occurred. It is also known as a fresh crime.

Example 1: A police officer sees a person breaking into a house and stealing valuables. The officer can arrest the person for flagrans crimen because the crime is happening at that moment.

Example 2: A store owner discovers that someone has broken into their store and stolen merchandise. The owner calls the police, who arrive shortly after the crime was committed. The police can arrest the suspect for flagrans crimen because the crime was committed recently.

The examples illustrate that flagrans crimen refers to a crime that is currently happening or has just occurred. In both examples, the police can take immediate action because the crime is fresh and the suspect is still in the area. This term is important in law enforcement because it allows officers to act quickly to prevent further harm or damage.