Quasi-Criminal Legal Meaning and Definition

Here is a simplified definition of the legal term Quasi-Criminal.

Quasi-Criminal (Adjective)

A legal term referring to laws or actions that, while not strictly criminal in the nature of their violation, still bear some aspects of criminality due to their harmful and punishable consequences. A good example can be seen in civil cases when courts take on characteristics similar to a criminal proceeding to penalize individuals for their improper actions, such as holding someone in contempt of court and assigning a jail sentence.