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Simple English definitions for legal terms
penal law
Read a random definition: Landon v. Plasencia
A quick definition of penal law:
Penal law refers to the laws that define and punish crimes. These laws are also known as criminal laws. They are put in place to maintain order and protect society from harmful behavior. Breaking penal laws can result in penalties such as fines, imprisonment, or other forms of punishment.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: Penal law refers to the body of laws that define crimes and their punishments. It is also known as criminal law.
Example 1: In the United States, the federal penal law includes the United States Code, which outlines federal crimes and their corresponding penalties. For example, 18 U.S. Code § 1341 makes it a crime to use the mail to defraud someone.
Example 2: In India, the Indian Penal Code is the primary penal law that defines crimes and punishments. For instance, Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code makes murder a punishable offense.
These examples illustrate how penal law defines specific actions as crimes and outlines the corresponding punishments for those crimes. It is important to have penal laws in place to maintain social order and protect citizens from harm.