Legal Definitions - indeterminate

Indeterminate describes something that is not clearly defined, precisely known, or definitively established. It refers to a state of uncertainty regarding quantity, duration, outcome, or specific characteristics.

• Contractual Terms: Imagine a business contract for services where the exact completion date is stated as "when the project feels right." This would be an indeterminate completion date because it lacks a specific, measurable deadline, making it difficult for either party to enforce or plan around.

• Sentencing in Criminal Law: In some legal systems, a judge might impose an indeterminate prison sentence, such as "a term of not less than five years and not more than ten years." Here, the exact release date is not fixed at the time of sentencing but will be determined later by a parole board based on the inmate's behavior and rehabilitation progress within the specified range.

• Investigation Findings: Following a complex incident, investigators might initially declare the precise cause to be indeterminate. This means that, based on the available evidence, they cannot yet pinpoint a distinct or precise reason for what occurred, and further investigation is required to reach a definitive conclusion.