From en.wikipedia.org:
[Class of criminal offense] [Other uses]
MISCHIEF (or MALICIOUS MISCHIEF) is the name for a class of criminal offenses
that are defined differently in different legal jurisdictions. While the
wrongful acts will often involve what is popularly described as vandalism,
there can be a legal differentiation between vandalism and mischief. The
etymology of the word comes from Old French _meschief_, which means
"misfortune", from _meschever_, "to end badly".
** Canada
The country's Criminal Code makes mischief a hybrid offence, punishable by up
to and including life imprisonment if the mischief causes actual danger to
human life.[1] Public mischief is the term for the crime of wasting police
time.[2]
** Scotland
Malicious mischief is an offence against the common law of Scotland. It does
not require actual damage to property for the offence to be committed;
financial damage consequential to the act is sufficient. It has now largely
been replaced by vandalism, a statutory offense with the same definition.
Vandalism is defined by section 52 of the Criminal Law (Consolidation)
(Scotland) Act 1995.[3]
** United States
In United States criminal law, mischief is an offense against property that
typically involves the intentional or reckless infliction of damage,
defacement, alteration, or destruction of property. Common forms include
vandalism and graffiti.[4] Governed by state law, criminal mischief is
committed when a perpetrator, having no right to do so nor any reasonable
ground to believe that he/she has such a right, intentionally or recklessly
damages property of another person, intentionally participates in the
destruction of property of another person, or participates in the reckless
damage or destruction of property of another person.[5]
** See also
- Criminal damage in English law
- Property damage
** References
[Reflist]
** External links
- [Wiktionary-inline]
[Authority control]
Category:Legal terminology Category:Vandalism
[Crime-stub]