Have you been convicted of Moral Turpitude?
The concept of moral turpitude escapes precise definition but has been described as an act of:
- Baseness
- Vileness
- or Depravity
These crimes are typically relating to the private and social duties which a man owes to his fellowmen, or to society in general, contrary to the accepted and customary rule of right and duty between man and man.
The specific acts that such a concept includes inevitably change over time, as general public acceptance or abhorrence of issues alters;
For example, until recent times, a man engaged in homosexual behavior was still considered as engaging in "criminal behavior involving moral turpitude."
The classification of a crime or other conduct as constituting moral turpitude has significance in several areas of law.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moral_turpitude
- First, prior conviction of a crime of moral turpitude (or in some jurisdictions, moral turpitude conduct, even without a conviction) is considered to have a bearing on the honesty of a witness and may be used for purposes of witness impeachment.
- Second, moral turpitude offenses may be grounds to deny or revoke a professional license such as a teaching credential, license to practice law, or other licensed profession.
- Third, it is of great importance for immigration purposes, as offenses which are defined as involving moral turpitude are considered bars to immigration into the U.S.