Legal Definitions - bona felonum

Bona felonum is a historical legal term that refers to the goods, property, or assets belonging to a person who has been convicted of a felony. Historically, these assets were often subject to forfeiture to the Crown or the state as a direct consequence of the crime. While the specific term is less commonly used in modern legal systems, the underlying principle of seizing assets obtained through or used in criminal activity continues to exist in contemporary asset forfeiture laws.

• Example 1: Imagine a wealthy landowner in 16th-century England who is found guilty of treason, a serious felony. Under the legal customs of the time, his vast estates, livestock, and other valuable possessions would be declared bona felonum and subsequently seized by the Crown. This forfeiture would be a direct penalty for his conviction.

  Explanation: This example illustrates how the property of a convicted felon, even if not directly acquired through the crime, was historically subject to confiscation by the state as a consequence of a felony conviction.

• Example 2: Consider a scenario in a historical legal system where a person is convicted of a serious crime like grand larceny. In addition to imprisonment, any personal property they owned—such as their tools, household goods, or even their small plot of land—could be classified as bona felonum and taken by the authorities as part of the punishment for their offense.

  Explanation: This demonstrates that the term applied to various personal assets of the convicted individual, highlighting the broad scope of forfeiture associated with felony convictions in historical contexts.

• Example 3: If a group of individuals in a historical setting were convicted of piracy, their captured ship, its valuable cargo, and any personal wealth found on them would all be considered bona felonum. These assets would then be subject to confiscation by the governing authority, often the Admiralty, as a penalty for their criminal acts.

  Explanation: This example shows how assets directly involved in or acquired through the commission of a felony, as well as personal wealth, could fall under this classification and be subject to state seizure.