criminal possession

Học thuật
Thân thiện
Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A legal offense involving unlawful holding of property: "Criminal possession" refers to the act of having, holding, or controlling property under circumstances that violate the law, making the possessor subject to criminal penalties. The property itself may be illegal to possess under any circumstances (e.g., certain drugs, unregistered weapons) or may only become illegal to possess under specific conditions (e.g., stolen goods, certain quantities of regulated items).
Examples of Usage
  • Noun:
    • He was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance. (This means he was formally accused of unlawfully having drugs.)
    • The prosecutor argued that the defendant's criminal possession of the stolen artwork was a felony. (This means the prosecutor claimed the defendant's unlawful holding of the art was a serious crime.)
    • Laws regarding criminal possession of firearms vary from state to state. (This means statutes defining the illegal holding of guns differ across jurisdictions.)
Advanced Usage
  • "Constructive possession": A legal doctrine where a person is considered to possess an item even if it is not on their person, if they have knowledge of the item and the ability and intent to control it.
    • The drugs were found in a car he owned, so he was charged with criminal possession under a theory of constructive possession.
  • "Possession with intent to distribute": A more serious charge that elevates simple criminal possession by alleging the possessor intended to sell or distribute the illegal items.
    • The large quantity of cash and packaged drugs led to a charge of criminal possession with intent to distribute.
Variants and Related Words
  • Possession (n): The general act of having or owning something. In law, it specifically means having control over property.
  • Possess (v): To have or own something.
  • Possessor (n): A person who possesses something.
  • Criminal (adj): Related to or involving crime.
Synonyms
  • Unlawful possession: Holding something illegally.
  • Illegal holding: Having control over contraband or property obtained illegally.
Related Phrases
  • "Charged with possession": Formally accused of the crime of having an illegal item.
    • She was charged with possession after the police found the substance in her bag.
  • "Possession is nine-tenths of the law": (Idiom) A common saying suggesting that physical control of something is a strong claim to ownership, though it is not an actual legal defense against a charge of .
    • He claimed the jewelry was his, citing that possession is nine-tenths of the law, but he still faced charges for its criminal possession.
Noun
  1. (law) possession for which criminal sanctions are provided because the property may not lawfully be possessed or may not be possessed under certain circumstances