Which term refers to inherently wrong or evil acts that society must punish?

The term that refers to inherently wrong or evil acts that society must punish is "malum in se." This legal concept encompasses actions that are considered wrong by their very nature, independent of regulations or laws. Examples include murder, rape, and robbery. These acts are universally recognized across cultures and legal systems as morally reprehensible and threatening to the social order, therefore necessitating punishment to uphold societal norms and protect individuals.

In contrast, malum prohibitum describes actions that are not inherently evil but are considered wrong because they are defined as such by law or regulation. Civil offenses usually pertain to disputes between individuals or entities rather than crimes against the state, and felonies are a classification of crimes that typically carry severe penalties, but not all felonies are necessarily malum in se. Understanding the distinction helps to clarify the types of actions that legal systems prioritize for punishment based on their moral implications.