decriminalization
Pronunciation: /diːˌkɹɪmɪnəlaɪzˈeɪʃən/
The English word “decriminalization” has 2 meanings listed here.
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 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).
Etymology
From de- + criminalization or decriminalize + -ation.
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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.