1.
criminal liability; criminal responsibility
Legal responsibility for acts defined as crimes by criminal law, resulting in punishment such as imprisonment or fines imposed by the state.
刑事責任を問われる可能性がある。
There is a possibility of being held criminally liable.
十四歳未満の者は刑事責任を問われない。
Persons under the age of fourteen are not held criminally liable.
精神鑑定の結果、刑事責任能力がないと判断されて不起訴になった。
As a result of the psychiatric evaluation, it was determined that the person lacked criminal responsibility, and the case was dropped.
A compound of 刑事 (criminal, penal) and 責任 (responsibility, liability). A core legal concept paired with 民事責任 (civil liability).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 刑事責任を問う — to hold criminally liable
- 刑事責任を負う — to bear criminal responsibility
- 刑事責任能力 — criminal capacity (ability to be held responsible)
- 刑事責任年齢 — age of criminal responsibility
KEY CONCEPTS:
- 刑事責任年齢: In Japan, the age of criminal responsibility is 14. Those under 14 cannot be prosecuted under criminal law.
- 刑事責任能力: The mental capacity to understand that one's actions are wrong and to control one's behavior. Persons found to lack this capacity (心神喪失) are not punished.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 民事責任 — civil liability (compensating the victim, not punishment by the state)
- 刑罰 — criminal punishment
- 有罪 — guilty verdict
- 責任能力 — capacity for responsibility (often shorthand for criminal capacity)