Legal Definitions - statutory crime

A statutory crime is an act or omission that is prohibited and made punishable by a specific written law, known as a statute, passed by a legislative body. Unlike crimes that might have originated from long-standing common law principles, statutory crimes are entirely defined and created by legislative action to address specific societal needs or concerns.

• Example 1: Texting While Driving

  Imagine a state legislature passes a law making it illegal to use a handheld mobile device to send or read text messages while operating a vehicle. This new law specifies the prohibited conduct and the penalties for violating it.

  This is a statutory crime because the act of texting while driving was not historically considered a crime under common law. It became a criminal offense only when the legislature specifically enacted a statute to address this modern public safety issue, defining the behavior as illegal and punishable.

• Example 2: Illegal Dumping of Hazardous Waste

  A manufacturing company disposes of industrial chemicals into a local river, violating a state's environmental protection act. This act contains detailed provisions about what constitutes hazardous waste, acceptable disposal methods, and the criminal penalties for non-compliance.

  The company's action constitutes a statutory crime because the specific prohibition against dumping hazardous waste in this manner, along with the associated criminal penalties, is explicitly outlined in a legislative statute. Without that particular environmental protection statute, the act might not carry the same criminal consequences.

• Example 3: Insider Trading

  An executive at a publicly traded company learns confidential information about an upcoming acquisition before it is announced to the public. Using this non-public information, the executive buys a large number of shares in the target company, knowing the stock price will likely increase significantly after the announcement. This action violates federal securities laws.

  Insider trading is a statutory crime because its specific definitions, prohibitions, and penalties are meticulously detailed in federal statutes, such as the Securities Exchange Act. Congress created these laws to ensure fairness and integrity in financial markets, making this specific type of financial misconduct a criminal offense.