New York statute
N.Y. Penal Law § 1.05 — General purposes
Current through 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17)
Part of Article 1: General Purposes, New York Penal Law.
Full text of N.Y. Penal Law § 1.05
Statutory text current through the 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17). This publication reproduces the text of the Consolidated Laws of New York as provided by the New York State Senate's Open Legislation service (Legislative Bill Drafting Commission statutory text); it is not the official statutes of the State of New York.
1.05 General purposes.
The general purposes of the provisions of this chapter are:
1. To proscribe conduct which unjustifiably and inexcusably causes or
threatens substantial harm to individual or public interests;
2. To give fair warning of the nature of the conduct proscribed and of
the sentences authorized upon conviction;
3. To define the act or omission and the accompanying mental state
which constitute each offense;
4. To differentiate on reasonable grounds between serious and minor
offenses and to prescribe proportionate penalties therefor;
5. To provide for an appropriate public response to particular
offenses, including consideration of the consequences of the offense for
the victim, including the victim's family, and the community; and
6. To insure the public safety by preventing the commission of
offenses through the deterrent influence of the sentences authorized,
the rehabilitation of those convicted, the promotion of their successful
and productive reentry and reintegration into society, and their
confinement when required in the interests of public protection.
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