Legal Definitions - turpitude

In legal terms, moral turpitude refers to conduct that is considered inherently base, vile, or depraved, and contrary to accepted standards of morality and honesty. It typically involves acts of dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or serious disregard for the rights and welfare of others. While not every crime involves moral turpitude, those that do are often seen as reflecting a fundamental flaw in character.

This concept is significant in various legal areas, including:

• Immigration Law: Certain crimes involving moral turpitude can make a non-citizen ineligible for a visa, asylum, or even lead to deportation.
• Professional Licensing: Professionals such as lawyers, doctors, or financial advisors who commit acts of moral turpitude may face suspension or revocation of their licenses.
• Criminal Law: In some jurisdictions, a conviction for a crime involving moral turpitude can have additional consequences, such as affecting sentencing or eligibility for certain rights.

Here are some examples illustrating the concept of moral turpitude:

• Example 1 (Immigration Context): A person applying for permanent residency in the United States was previously convicted in their home country for orchestrating a sophisticated scheme to counterfeit designer goods and sell them as authentic. This conviction involved significant fraud and deceit, demonstrating a clear intent to mislead and profit from dishonesty.

  Explanation: The act of counterfeiting and selling fake goods under false pretenses is considered an act of moral turpitude because it involves inherent dishonesty, a deliberate intent to defraud consumers, and a disregard for intellectual property rights. Such a conviction could negatively impact their immigration application.

• Example 2 (Professional Licensing Context): A certified public accountant (CPA) is found to have knowingly prepared and filed fraudulent tax returns for multiple clients over several years, helping them evade millions in taxes. The CPA received a percentage of the evaded funds as payment.

  Explanation: Deliberately preparing fraudulent tax returns involves a profound breach of professional ethics, dishonesty, and a direct attempt to deceive the government. This conduct is a clear example of moral turpitude and would almost certainly lead to the revocation of the CPA's professional license and potential criminal charges.

• Example 3 (Employment/Criminal Context): A manager at a charity organization systematically diverted funds donated for disaster relief into their personal bank accounts, fabricating invoices and reports to cover their tracks. The manager used the stolen money for luxury purchases.

  Explanation: Embezzling funds from a charity, especially those intended for disaster relief, is an act of extreme dishonesty, betrayal of trust, and exploitation of public goodwill. This behavior demonstrates a profound lack of integrity and is unequivocally considered an act of moral turpitude, leading to severe criminal penalties and irreparable damage to their reputation.