New York · statute · N.Y. Penal Law · 999 active provisions
CHAPTER 1030 AN ACT providing for the punishment of offenses, constituting chapter forty of the consolidated laws Became a law July 20, 1965, with the approval of the Governor. Passed by a majority vote, three-fifths being present The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as foll…
PART ONE GENERAL PROVISIONS
TITLE A GENERAL PURPOSES, RULES OF CONSTRUCTION, AND DEFINITIONS
ARTICLE 1 GENERAL PURPOSES Section 1.00 Short title. 1.05 General purposes.
§ 1.00 Short title. This chapter shall be known as the "Penal Law. "
§ 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 co…
ARTICLE 5 GENERAL RULES OF CONSTRUCTION AND APPLICATION Section 5.00 Penal law not strictly construed. 5.05 Application of chapter to offenses committed before and after enactment. 5.10 Other limitations on applicability of this chapter.
§ 5.00 Penal law not strictly construed. The general rule that a penal statute is to be strictly construed does not apply to this chapter, but the provisions herein must be construed according to the fair import of their terms to promote justice and effect the objects of the law.
§ 5.05 Application of chapter to offenses committed before and after enactment. 1. The provisions of this chapter shall govern the construction of and punishment for any offense defined in this chapter and committed after the effective date hereof, as well as the construction and application of any defense to a prosecu…
§ 5.10 Other limitations on applicability of this chapter. 1. Except as otherwise provided, the procedure governing the accusation, prosecution, conviction and punishment of offenders and offenses is not regulated by this chapter but by the criminal procedure law. 2. This chapter does not affect any power conferred by…
ARTICLE 10 DEFINITIONS Section 10.00 Definitions of terms of general use in this chapter.
§ 10.00 Definitions of terms of general use in this chapter. Except where different meanings are expressly specified in subsequent provisions of this chapter, the following terms have the following meanings: 1. "Offense" means conduct for which a sentence to a term of imprisonment or to a fine is provided by any law of…
TITLE B PRINCIPLES OF CRIMINAL LIABILITY
ARTICLE 15 CULPABILITY Section 15.00 Culpability; definitions of terms. 15.05 Culpability; definitions of culpable mental states. 15.10 Requirements for criminal liability in general and for offenses of strict liability and mental culpability. 15.15 Construction of statutes with respect to culpability requirements. 15.…
§ 15.00 Culpability; definitions of terms. The following definitions are applicable to this chapter: 1. "Act" means a bodily movement. 2. "Voluntary act" means a bodily movement performed consciously as a result of effort or determination, and includes the possession of property if the actor was aware of his physical p…
§ 15.05 Culpability; definitions of culpable mental states. The following definitions are applicable to this chapter: 1. "Intentionally." A person acts intentionally with respect to a result or to conduct described by a statute defining an offense when his conscious objective is to cause such result or to engage in suc…
§ 15.10 Requirements for criminal liability in general and for offenses of strict liability and mental culpability. The minimal requirement for criminal liability is the performance by a person of conduct which includes a voluntary act or the omission to perform an act which he is physically capable of performing. If s…
§ 15.15 Construction of statutes with respect to culpability requirements. 1. When the commission of an offense defined in this chapter, or some element of an offense, requires a particular culpable mental state, such mental state is ordinarily designated in the statute defining the offense by use of the terms "intenti…
§ 15.20 Effect of ignorance or mistake upon liability. 1. A person is not relieved of criminal liability for conduct because he engages in such conduct under a mistaken belief of fact, unless: (a) Such factual mistake negatives the culpable mental state required for the commission of an offense; or (b) The statute defi…
§ 15.25 Effect of intoxication upon liability. Intoxication is not, as such, a defense to a criminal charge; but in any prosecution for an offense, evidence of intoxication of the defendant may be offered by the defendant whenever it is relevant to negative an element of the crime charged.
ARTICLE 20 PARTIES TO OFFENSES AND LIABILITY THROUGH ACCESSORIAL CONDUCT Section 20.00 Criminal liability for conduct of another. 20.05 Criminal liability for conduct of another; no defense. 20.10 Criminal liability for conduct of another; exemption. 20.15 Convictions for different degrees of offense. 20.20 Criminal li…
§ 20.00 Criminal liability for conduct of another. When one person engages in conduct which constitutes an offense, another person is criminally liable for such conduct when, acting with the mental culpability required for the commission thereof, he solicits, requests, commands, importunes, or intentionally aids such p…
§ 20.05 Criminal liability for conduct of another; no defense. In any prosecution for an offense in which the criminal liability of the defendant is based upon the conduct of another person pursuant to section 20.00, it is no defense that: 1. Such other person is not guilty of the offense in question owing to criminal…
§ 20.10 Criminal liability for conduct of another; exemption. Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 20.00 and 20.05, a person is not criminally liable for conduct of another person constituting an offense when his own conduct, though causing or aiding the commission of such offense, is of a kind that is necessaril…
§ 20.15 Convictions for different degrees of offense. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this chapter, when, pursuant to section 20.00, two or more persons are criminally liable for an offense which is divided into degrees, each person is guilty of such degree as is compatible with his own culpable mental state…