However, in practice, it’s rarely as simple as that. Grey hat hackers often use mischief as a way to signal security breaches to system administrators.What is criminal mischief? In short, any time someone damages a property without the owner’s permission, they’ll likely face criminal mischief charges. In computer science and hacker jargon, mischief is a form of attack that clearly indicates the breach of the system and constitutes a form of injury or an infringement of rights, more specifically invasion of privacy, against which legal action can be taken to secure damages. Criminal mischief is usually a misdemeanor. Governed by state law, criminal mischief is committed when a perpetrator, having no right to do so nor any reasonable ground to believe that he/she has such right, intentionally damages property of another person, intentionally participates in the destruction of property of another person, or participates in the reckless damage or destruction of property of another person. Common forms include vandalism, graffiti, or some other destruction or defacement of property other than arson.

It typically involves any damage, defacement, alteration, or destruction of property. In United States criminal law, mischief is an offense against property that does not involve conversion. The etymology of the word comes from Old French meschief, which means 'misfortune,' from meschever, 'to end badly.' If the greatest inward heat be not sweetened by meekness, or not governed by prudence, can it bring to our souls any benefit? rather it mischiefs them.įreebase Rate this definition: 5.0 / 1 vote States call in foreigners to assist them against a common enemy but the mischief was, these allies, would never allow that the common enemy was subdued. To interpose between us, look not on him. 2.Ĭome not thou with mischief-making beauty,

The law in that case punisheth the thought for better is a mischief than an inconvenience. Harm hurt whatever is ill and injuriously done. Samuel Johnson's Dictionary Rate this definition: 0.0 / 0 votesĮtymology: meschef, old French.

Mischief meaning