אֵין עֳנָשִׁין אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן מַזְהִירִין

ביטוי (אנגלית)

No punishment is imposed unless there is prior warning

הגדרה (אנגלית)

A legal principle stating that punishment cannot be imposed before a prior warning has been given about the expected penalty for violating the law.

("Is it not logical that there should be no punishment unless there was a warning? But as for the warning for the affliction of the day itself, from where do we derive it?... By analogy: it is stated there is punishment for affliction, and it is stated there is punishment for work. Just as for work—no punishment unless there was a warning, so for affliction—no punishment unless there was a warning."—Yoma 81a, and also: "So Rashi explained, namely, as is said elsewhere: 'No punishment is imposed unless there is warning.'"—Tosafot Yom Tov, Keritot, Chapter 2)