34. capital offense

A capital offense is a crime that is considered so severe that it is punishable by the death penalty or life imprisonment in jurisdictions where capital punishment is allowed. These offenses typically involve heinous crimes, such as:

1. Murder – Especially premeditated or aggravated murder.

2. Treason – Acts that betray one’s country, such as espionage.

3. Terrorism – Large-scale attacks causing mass casualties.

4. Espionage – Spying against one’s nation for a foreign government.

5. War Crimes & Genocide – Crimes against humanity under international law.

Laws surrounding capital offenses vary by country, with many nations abolishing the death penalty while others still enforce it under strict legal conditions.

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reference

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1. Legal Information Institute – Capital Offense Definition

• URL: https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/capital_offense

• Explanation: This page from Cornell Law School's Legal Information Institute provides a concise definition of a capital offense, explaining that it is a criminal charge punishable by the death penalty. It also discusses variations in capital offenses across different jurisdictions.

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2. Law.com – Capital Offense Definition

• URL: https://dictionary.law.com/Default.aspx?selected=131

• Explanation: Law.com's legal dictionary defines a capital offense as any criminal charge punishable by the death penalty, noting that the specific crimes considered capital offenses can vary by state and country.

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3. Study.com – Capital Crime: Definition & Examples

• URL: https://study.com/learn/lesson/capital-crime-examples-statistics.html

• Explanation: This educational resource defines capital crimes and provides examples, noting that offenses punishable by death vary from state to state, with first-degree murder being the most common capital crime.

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4. Congressional Research Service – Federal Capital Offenses: An Overview

• URL: https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R42095

• Explanation: This comprehensive report offers an overview of substantive and procedural laws related to federal capital offenses in the United States, detailing the various crimes that can result in the death penalty under federal law.

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5. Wikipedia – Capital Punishment

• URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment

• Explanation: The Wikipedia entry on capital punishment provides an extensive overview of the death penalty, including a section on crimes that are considered capital offenses, which vary depending on the jurisdiction but commonly include serious crimes such as murder and treason.

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