NCJ Number
14058
Date Published
1973
Length
330 pages
Annotation
THE OFFICIAL DRAFT OF THE PROPOSED CRIMINAL CODE, WHICH INCLUDES SECTIONS ON INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS, DISPOSITION OF OFFENDERS, GENERAL PROVISIONS, AND SPECIFIC OFFENSES.
Abstract
APPROPRIATE EXPLANATORY COMMENTS ARE GIVEN FOR EACH SECTION. THE PROPOSED CODE REPEALS ANTIQUATED, OBSOLETE AND OUTMODED CRIMINAL LAWS; ELIMINATES ARCHAIC TERMINOLOGY OF DUBIOUS MEANING AND SUBSTITUTES SIMPLE, CLEAR AND UNDERSTANDABLE LANGUAGE PLAINLY DEFINING CRIMES AND PROSCRIBING CONDUCT, THEREBY REDUCING THE OCCASION FOR JUDICIAL CONSTRUCTION, CLEARLY NOTIFYING THE CITIZEN WHAT CONDUCT IS SUBJECT TO CRIMINAL PENALTIES AND PROVIDING PROSECUTORS, DEFENSE COUNSEL, COURTS AND JURIES WITH DEFINITE GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS. A SYSTEM OF CLASSIFICATION OF CRIMES INTO SEPARATE SENTENCING CATEGORIES, WITH AN UNCOMPLICATED RANGE OF PENALTIES ASSIGNED TO EACH CATEGORY HAS BEEN INTRODUCED. EACH OFFENSE IS GRADED ACCORDING TO ITS SERIOUSNESS AND PLACED IN ONE OF THE CATEGORIES, THUS REDUCING THE GREAT NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PENALTIES NOW ON THE BOOKS, AND ELIMINATING INCONGRUITIES. APPENDED ARE SEPARATE PROPOSALS DRAFTED BY THE COMMITTEE DEALING WITH THE QUESTIONS OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT, ABORTION, AND THE PRIVACY OF COMMUNICATIONS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)