incriminare

Incriminare is the Romanian noun for the act or process of imputing criminal liability to a person, or of classifying a conduct as an offense under the law. It derives from Latin incriminare, from in- “on, against” and crimin- “crime.” In legal usage, incriminare refers to both the act of accusing someone of wrongdoing and the act by which conduct is considered criminal under a statute.

In legal practice, incrimination occurs when authorities gather evidence and decide to file charges against a suspect. The accused is entitled to due process, including the presumption of innocence and the right to defense; the state bears the burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Incriminating evidence includes facts, testimony, or other elements that tend to show the defendant committed the offense, though their admissibility and weight are governed by procedural rules and court decisions.

The term can also be used in a broader sense to describe any element that makes a person appear guilty, even outside formal proceedings. In criminal codes, incrimination is linked to the definition of offenses themselves, since liability arises only when conduct is prohibited by law and the person’s culpability is established through a formal process.

See also: presumption of innocence, burden of proof, criminal code, indictment, charge.