Quasi crimes

This term embraces ali offenses not crimes or misdemeanors, but that are in the nature of crimes,
—a class of offenses against the public which have not been declared crimes, but wrongs against the general or local public which it is proper should be repressed or punished by forfeitures and penalties. This would embrace all qui tarn actions and forfeitures imposed for the neglect or violation of a public duty. A quasi crime would not embrace an indictable offense, whatever might be its grade, but simply forfeitures for a wrong done to the public, whether voluntary or involuntary, where a penalty is given, whether recoverable by criminal or civil process. Wiggins v. Chicago, 68 111. 375.

Defined under Crime in Black's Law Dictionary.