Crimes of Moral Turpitude

There is no universal list of which crimes constitute crimes of “moral turpitude” and which do not. Courts have decided this on a case-by-case basis. The new rules of evidence continue to incorporate the rule that if more than 10 years have elapsed, a prior conviction will not be held remote if there is an intervening crime that is a felony or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude.

The rules of evidence provide a separate analysis standard if the conviction is more than 10 years old.  Several crimes that have been held to be crimes of moral turpitude are sexual assault of a child, lying to a police officer, mail fraud, tax evasion, prostitution, purchase of a child, indecent exposure, failure to stop and render aid, theft, aggravated assault by a man on a woman, and murder.

There are also several crimes that have been held not to be crimes of moral turpitude such as felony drug possession, delivery of marijuana, aggravated assault with serious bodily injury, possession of marijuana, and DWI.