§701-103  Purposes of this Code.  The
purposes of this Code are to codify the general principles of the penal law and
to define and codify certain specific offenses which constitute harms to basic
social interests  which the Code seeks to protect. [L 1972, c 9, pt of §1]



 



COMMENTARY ON §701-103



 



  This section states the general purposes of the Code which
are twofold.  First, the Code defines the general principles of the penal law,
including those principles relating to liability, justification, responsibility,
inchoate behavior, and disposition of convicted defendants.  Many of these
basic principles are not presently defined in the statutory law and depend, for
recognition and development, on decisional law.  Secondly, the Code undertakes
to codify a major portion of the penal law by defining and codifying the bulk
of those specific offenses which constitute harms to social interests which the
law in general and this Code in particular seek to protect:  i.e., offenses
against the person, property rights, the family and incompetents, public
administration, public order, and public health and morals.  In this respect
the purpose of the Code is not different than that of existing law; however,
the Code, unlike present law, reflects this purpose in its organization: the
definition of offenses in Chapters 707 through 712 are arranged according to
the social interest offended, rather than in a somewhat alphabetical fashion as
was the case in the former Title 38, now repealed.