Legal Definitions - moral turpitude

Moral Turpitude

Moral turpitude refers to conduct that is considered inherently base, vile, or depraved, representing a significant departure from accepted standards of honesty, justice, or morality within a community. It describes actions that are not merely illegal, but also fundamentally wrong and shocking to the conscience of society. Such acts often involve dishonesty, fraud, or serious harm to others, and can have severe consequences in various legal contexts, such as affecting immigration status, professional licenses, or criminal sentencing.

• Example 1: Immigration Application

  Imagine an individual applying for a green card to live permanently in the United States. During the background check, it is discovered that they were previously convicted of a serious felony like grand theft or embezzlement in their home country.

  How it illustrates moral turpitude: Grand theft or embezzlement involves a deliberate act of dishonesty and a serious breach of trust, often causing significant financial harm to others. Such actions are widely considered morally reprehensible and a profound departure from accepted societal standards of honesty and integrity, thus falling under the category of moral turpitude, which could impact their eligibility for immigration.

• Example 2: Professional Licensing for a Healthcare Provider

  Consider a licensed nurse who is found to have repeatedly falsified patient medical records to cover up their own negligence, leading to incorrect treatments and harm to patients.

  How it illustrates moral turpitude: Intentionally falsifying medical records to conceal professional errors, especially when it jeopardizes patient safety, demonstrates extreme dishonesty, a profound disregard for professional duties, and a betrayal of the trust placed in healthcare providers. This conduct is considered morally depraved and would likely lead to severe disciplinary action, including the potential loss of their nursing license, due to its nature as an act of moral turpitude.

• Example 3: Public Official Misconduct

  A city council member uses their position to secretly award lucrative public contracts to a company owned by their spouse, without disclosing the conflict of interest and despite the company not being the most qualified bidder.

  How it illustrates moral turpitude: This scenario involves a clear abuse of public trust, self-dealing, and a deliberate act of dishonesty for personal financial gain at the expense of the public good. Such corruption is considered a grave moral failing and a significant departure from the ethical duties owed by a public servant to their community, clearly demonstrating moral turpitude.