If a person make an exculpatory statement, he or she is rejecting or denying culpability (blame) for a crime. For example: ``I didn't do nuffin''. The opposite, an inculpatory statement, is an acceptance of culpability. Sometimes a statement that purports to be a confession will contained mixed inculpatory and exculpatory elements: ``Alright, I done the robbery, but I didn't shoot no-one''.
Law glossary index
©1994-2006 Kevin Boone, all rights reserved