What is the stated purpose of the penal law?

What is the stated purpose of the penal law?

• A. To forbid conduct that causes or threatens to cause harm
• B. To maximize government power
• C. To protect only property
• D. To regulate traffic

Answer: (A)

The stated purpose of penal law is to forbid conduct that causes or threatens to cause harm. This frames criminal statutes as rules that define harmful actions and penalties to prevent those harms, keep people safe, and maintain social order. It isn’t about expanding government power for its own sake, nor is it limited to protecting only property or to regulating traffic. Those are narrower aspects or specific areas; the broader aim of penal law is to address a wide range of harms to persons and society, deterring and punishing wrongdoing to protect everyone.

The stated purpose of penal law is to forbid conduct that causes or threatens to cause harm. This frames criminal statutes as rules that define harmful actions and penalties to prevent those harms, keep people safe, and maintain social order. It isn’t about expanding government power for its own sake, nor is it limited to protecting only property or to regulating traffic. Those are narrower aspects or specific areas; the broader aim of penal law is to address a wide range of harms to persons and society, deterring and punishing wrongdoing to protect everyone.