Legal Definitions - dole

The term "dole" has several distinct meanings depending on the context:

• 1. A Share of Something Divisible:

  This refers to an individual portion or allocation of something that belongs to multiple people but can be divided among them.

  • Example 1: After a successful fishing season, the members of a cooperative fishing fleet divided their profits. Each crew member received their agreed-upon dole from the shared earnings.

    Explanation: The profits were jointly owned by the cooperative members and were divisible, with each member's share being their "dole."

  • Example 2: When a large estate was liquidated, the proceeds were distributed among the numerous beneficiaries according to the will. Each heir received their rightful dole of the inheritance.

    Explanation: The estate's proceeds were jointly owned by the beneficiaries and were divided, with each heir's portion representing their "dole."

  • Example 3: In a community garden project, the harvest of vegetables was shared among all participating families. Each family took home their equitable dole of the fresh produce.

    Explanation: The harvested produce was jointly owned by the community gardeners and was divided, with each family's share being their "dole."

• 2. Slang for Government Welfare Benefits:

  In informal usage, "dole" refers to financial assistance or welfare payments provided by the government to individuals who are unemployed or in need.

  • Example 1: After his factory closed, John applied for unemployment benefits to support his family while he looked for a new job. His friends might colloquially say he was "on the dole" during this period.

    Explanation: This illustrates the informal use of "dole" to describe government-provided unemployment assistance, a form of welfare.

  • Example 2: A person unable to work due to a severe illness receives regular disability payments from a state agency. Some might informally refer to these payments as "the dole."

    Explanation: Here, "dole" is used informally to encompass government-provided disability payments, which fall under welfare benefits.

  • Example 3: Critics of certain social support programs sometimes argue that they encourage people to rely on "the dole" rather than seeking employment.

    Explanation: This example highlights the use of "dole" as a general, often critical, term for various forms of government welfare or public assistance.

• 3. Scots Law: Criminal Intent:

  In Scots law, "dole" signifies the mental state of a person who commits a crime, specifically their criminal intent or guilty mind. It is comparable to the concept of mens rea in other legal systems.

  • Example 1: In a Scottish trial for assault, the prosecution must prove not only that the accused physically attacked the victim but also that they acted with dole, meaning they intended to cause harm or were reckless as to causing harm.

    Explanation: This demonstrates "dole" as the necessary criminal intent—the mental element—required for a conviction under Scots law.

  • Example 2: A person in Scotland is accused of vandalism. If the defense can show that the damage was purely accidental and there was no intention to destroy property, the court might find a lack of dole, potentially leading to an acquittal.

    Explanation: This example clarifies that "dole" refers to the specific intent to commit the crime (in this case, to damage property), and its absence can negate criminal liability.

  • Example 3: For a conviction of fraud in a Scottish court, the prosecution must establish that the defendant acted with dole, meaning they deliberately intended to deceive another person for personal gain, rather than making an honest mistake.

    Explanation: This illustrates "dole" as the deliberate intention to deceive, which is a crucial element of criminal fraud in Scots law.