Necessitas Culpabilis Law & Legal Definition

Necessitas Culpabilis is a Latin word which means culpable necessity. Generally, necessity as a defense excuses an act done under compulsion. An actor cannot justify criminal conduct when s/he was criminally culpable in creating the conditions making it necessary. Necessity as a defense is not available for purposeful, knowing, and reckless criminal conduct that directly causes an offense. Failing to account for criminally created culpability renders the concept of justification defective.