Provocative Act Law and Legal Definition
Provocative Act is a legal theory in which a person may be tried for murder if the person's actions created the situation which led to the murder. A felon may be held responsible for the death of another at the hands of a third party, if the basis for the charge is founded on provocative act doctrine, which is simply a form of reckless homicide. For example, a felon recklessly provokes a victim to shoot in self-defense, killing an innocent bystander. Only a few states recognize the Provocative Act doctrine.
