Attainder

In English common law, attainder was the metaphorical "stain" or "corruption of blood" which arose from being condemned for a serious capital crime (felony or treason). It entailed losing not only one's life, property and , but typically also the right to pass them on to one's heirs. Anyone condemned of capital crimes could be attainted, sometimes as a substitute for the dreaded common law treason.

Attainder by confession resulted from a guilty plea at the bar before judges or before the coroner in sanctuary. Attainder by verdict resulted from conviction by jury. Attainder by process resulted from a legislative act: parliament would outlaw a particular named fugitive (a bill of attainder). The last form is obsolete in England (and prohibited by constitutional law in the United States), and the other forms have been abolished.