Legal Definitions - Vigilantism

Vigilantism refers to the act of an individual or a group of citizens taking the law into their own hands, attempting to enforce justice, punish alleged offenders, or maintain order without legal authority. This action bypasses established legal processes and institutions, such as police, courts, and correctional systems, and is typically driven by a belief that official channels are insufficient, slow, or ineffective.

Here are some examples illustrating vigilantism:

• Example 1: A small, isolated community experiences a series of burglaries, and residents feel that the nearest police department, located many miles away, is not responding quickly enough. A group of concerned citizens decides to form an armed patrol, setting up roadblocks and interrogating strangers entering or leaving the town, with the stated aim of catching the thieves themselves.

  Explanation: This illustrates vigilantism because the citizens are assuming law enforcement roles—patrolling, setting roadblocks, and interrogating—that are legally reserved for authorized police officers. They are attempting to enforce order and apprehend suspects outside the formal legal framework.

• Example 2: After a local animal shelter is repeatedly vandalized, and despite reporting the incidents to the police, no arrests are made. A frustrated animal rights activist decides to investigate on their own, identifies a group of teenagers they believe are responsible, and then confronts them directly, demanding they confess and pay for the damages, threatening to expose their identities online if they refuse.

  Explanation: This is vigilantism because the activist is taking on the roles of investigator, judge, and punisher. They are attempting to identify perpetrators and impose a form of justice or restitution without involving the police or the judicial system, thereby bypassing legal authority.

• Example 3: In a neighborhood plagued by illegal dumping, residents grow tired of waiting for city officials to address the problem. A few homeowners install their own surveillance cameras, catch individuals in the act, and then publicly shame them by posting their photos and vehicle license plates on social media, along with calls for them to be prosecuted or fined by the community itself.

  Explanation: This demonstrates vigilantism as the homeowners are attempting to enforce environmental laws and punish offenders through public exposure and community pressure, rather than relying on the official legal channels (police, sanitation department, courts) to investigate, fine, or prosecute those responsible.