nusikaltimo

Nusikaltimas, the Lithuanian term for a crime, is defined in law as an act or omission that is prohibited by law and punishable by the state. The genitive form nusikaltimo appears in phrases such as nusikaltimo sudėtis (elements of a crime). The term is central to the Lithuanian Criminal Code and to how criminal liability is understood in Lithuania.

A nusikaltimas is described by its sudėtis: the objective element (conduct or omission and its causal link to a harmful result), the unlawfulness (violation of legal norms), the culpability (intent or negligence), and the social danger or punishability (the act falls within the category of offenses punishable by penalties).

Classification of nusikaltimas typically divides offenses by severity as nusikaltimai (crimes) and by lesser offenses as nusižengimai. They can also be grouped by the protected object (for example life, health, property, public order) and by the method of commission (act or omission) or the degree of guilt. Common examples include theft, bodily harm, and homicide.

Enforcement and penalties: Prosecution is carried out by state authorities; the burden of proof rests on the prosecution and generally requires establishing all elements beyond a reasonable doubt. Penalties vary by offense and statute and may include imprisonment, fines, probation, or other sanctions.

The concept of nusikaltimas evolves with legal reforms and interacts with administrative and civil law. It serves as the basis for determining criminal liability and guiding judicial decision-making in Lithuania.