Which term describes a breach of law, broadly used for criminal and non-criminal acts?

• A. Offense
• B. Arrest
• C. Contraband
• D. Evidence

Answer: (A)

A breach of law is described by the term offense. Offense is the broad label for acts that violate legal rules, covering both criminal offenses (like crimes) and other violations of law, such as regulatory or civil infractions. The concept centers on the act itself being a violation that the law prohibits. Arrest is simply the act of detaining a person, not the idea of a legal breach. Contraband refers to illegal goods, not the act of violating a law. Evidence is information or material used to prove facts in a case, not a description of the breach itself. So offense best captures the idea of a law violation across criminal and non-criminal contexts.