What's a "moral turpitude crime"?

what is a moral turpitude crime

Dear msjc7,
It is a legal concept in the USA, which refers to 'conduct that is considered contrary to community standards of justice, honesty, or good morals.
Sue...good luck

The following is according to Wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moral_turpitude

The following are crimes that are classified as crimes of moral turpitude:

There are four categories, Crimes Against Property, Against Government Authority, Against People, Family or Sexual Morality, and Crimes Involving Attempts, Aiding, Abetting, Accessories and Conspiracy.

These can include:
Fraud:
* Making false representation
* Knowledge of such false representation by the perpetrator
* Reliance on the false representation by the person defrauded
* An intent to defraud
* The actual act of committing fraud

Evil intent:
* Arson
* Blackmail
* Burglary
* Embezzlement
* Extortion
* False pretenses
* Forgery
* Fraud
* Larceny (grand or petty)
* Malicious destruction of property
* Receiving stolen goods (with guilty knowledge)
* Robbery
* Theft (when it involves the intention of permanent taking)
* Transporting stolen property (with guilty knowledge)

Against Government Authority:
* Bribery
* Counterfeiting
* Fraud against revenue or other government functions
* Mail fraud
* Perjury
* Harboring a fugitive from justice (with guilty knowledge)
* Tax evasion (willful)

Against People, Family or Sexual Morality:
* Abandonment of a minor child (if willful and resulting in the destitution of the child)
* Adultery (see INA 101** repealed by Public Law 97-116)
* Assault (this crime is broken down into several categories, which involve moral turpitude):
o Assault with intent to kill, commit rape, commit robbery or commit serious bodily harm
o Assault with a dangerous or deadly weapon
* Bigamy
* Contributing to the delinquency of a minor
* Gross indecency
* Incest (if the result of an improper sexual relationship)
* Kidnapping
* Lewdness
* Manslaughter:
o Voluntary
o Involuntary, where the statute requires proof of recklessness
* Mayhem
* Murder
* Pandering
* Prostitution
* Rape (including “Statutory rape” by virtue of the victim's age)
* Sodomy

Crimes Involving Attempts, Aiding, Abetting, Accessories and Conspiracy:
* An attempt to commit a crime deemed to involve moral turpitude
* Aiding and abetting in the commission of a crime deemed to involve moral turpitude
* Being an accessory (before or after the fact) in the commission of a crime deemed to involve moral turpitude
* Taking part in a conspiracy (or attempting to take part in a conspiracy) to commit a crime involving moral turpitude