Legal Definitions - locus criminis

Locus criminis

The Latin term locus criminis refers to the specific physical location where a crime was committed. It identifies the exact place where the illegal act occurred, which is crucial for investigations, evidence collection, and determining legal jurisdiction.

• Example 1: Bank Robbery
  If a masked individual enters a bank, threatens the tellers, and steals money from the vault, the locus criminis would be the bank building itself, and more specifically, the teller counter and the vault area where the robbery unfolded.

  This example illustrates the term because the bank is the precise physical setting where the criminal act of robbery took place, making it the scene of the crime.

• Example 2: Hit-and-Run Accident
  A driver strikes a pedestrian on a busy street and flees the scene without stopping. The locus criminis would be the specific intersection or stretch of road where the collision occurred, including the exact spot where the pedestrian was hit.

  Here, the specific point on the road where the accident happened is the physical location of the crime (the hit-and-run), thus serving as the locus criminis for investigators to examine for evidence.

• Example 3: Burglary of a Home
  Someone breaks into a residential house while the owners are away and steals valuable items. The locus criminis would be the specific address of the house that was unlawfully entered, including the particular rooms from which items were taken.

  This demonstrates the term as the house is the definite physical place where the act of burglary (unlawful entry and theft) was carried out, making it the primary site for forensic examination.