mala in se

noun | \ ˈma-ləm-in-ˈsē, ˈmä-lu̇m-in-ˈsā \ | mal·um in se

1. : an offense that is evil or wrong from its own nature irrespective of statute —often used with a preceding noun (as crime or act) held that burglary was a crime malum in se —State v. Stiffler, 788 P.2d 2205 (1990) — compare malum prohibitum