B&E
Law & Legal abbreviation · Criminal Law
| Stands for | Breaking and entering |
|---|---|
| Categories | Law & Legal |
B&E stands for Breaking and entering, a criminal law abbreviation also used in government.
Unlawful entry into a building or vehicle by force or other means, often with intent to commit a crime inside. It is an element of burglary in many states and a separate, lesser offense in others.
Example: Police charged two teenagers with B&E after they forced open the back door of the closed pharmacy.
Usage notes
At common law, burglary required breaking and entering a dwelling at night with intent to commit a felony; modern statutes have dropped most of those requirements. "Breaking" can mean as little as pushing open an unlocked door. Massachusetts and Michigan are among the states that still use the phrase in their statutes.
Related abbreviations
More criminal law abbreviations
- 5K – Substantial assistance departure (U.S.S.G. § 5K1.1)
- ACD – Adjournment in contemplation of dismissal
- ADW – Assault with a deadly weapon
- ARD – Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition
- BOP – Federal Bureau of Prisons
- BW – Bench warrant
- CDS – Controlled dangerous substance
- CI – Confidential informant
- CO – Correctional officer
- COA – Certificate of appealability
- cr – Criminal (case-type code)
- CW – Cooperating witness
See all 46 criminal law abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not legal advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.