decriminalization
/diːˌkɹɪmɪnəlaɪzˈeɪʃən/ noun
Forms decriminalisation
- noun The act of making an activity or substance no longer criminalized (no longer a crime, subject to criminal penalties, to perform or possess). (Compare legalization, which often implies regulation.) “the decriminalization of all plant-based psychedelics”
- noun The act of ceasing to treat a person as a criminal, by making their activities legal or no longer subjecting them to the criminal justice system (but instead possibly the mental healthcare system, etc).
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Antonyms
Etymology
From de- + criminalization or decriminalize + -ation.
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 — from the Wiktionary entry “decriminalization”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details