Blamable; censurable; involving the breach of a legal duty or the commission of a fault. The term is not necessarily equivalent to “criminal,” for, in present use, and notwithstanding its derivation, it implies that the act or conduct spoken of Is reprehensible or wrong but not that it Involves malice or a guilty purpose. “Culpable” in fact connotes fault rather than guilt. Railway Co. v. Clayberg, 107 111. 051; Bank v. Wright, 8 Allen (Mass.) 121. As to culpable “Homicide,” “Neglect,” and ” Negligence ,” see those titles.Culpae poena par esto. Poena ad men- uram delicti statnenda est. Let the punishment be proportioned to the crime. Punishment is to be measured by the extent of the offense.
Black’s Law Online Dictionary
