Final answer:
Mala in se crimes are inherently immoral acts like violence or theft, while mala prohibita crimes are not intrinsically wrong but are deemed illegal by law, such as regulatory violations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The difference between mala in se and mala prohibita crimes lies in the inherent nature of the act and society's view of its morality. Mala in se refers to acts that are wrong in themselves, such as violence or theft, and are universally considered to be immoral and deserving of punishment. On the other hand, mala prohibita crimes are not inherently evil but are made illegal through legislation, such as prohibita crimes like jaywalking or certain regulatory offenses. The distinction also highlights the varying severity society places on different types of crimes.