Talk:Penal code

Suggestion
Since this article is a bit lacking and I have no knowledge of it, here's a suggestion to someone who might know the history of penal codes:
 * where and when did the first penal code start?
 * when did the penal codes for some countries appear (just some examples)?

Cburnett 15:49, 6 December 2005 (UTC)

Merger with Criminal Code
I'm opposed to this merger - a penal code is any municipal law defining criminal offences for a wrongful act committed against the state, and specifying a corresponding punishment. That is to be contrasted with a criminal code, which is a collection of serious criminal offences and procedures that codifies criminal law principles and major offences. A criminal code does not generally rely on the common law, whereas a penal code may rely on some common law concepts. therefore.. THEY SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BE MERGED!!!!! Sambo 12:38, 30 May 2006 (UTC)

I second that: the concepts are related but different, certainly also in the civil law systems.--MWAK 04:28, 18 June 2007 (UTC)


 * Oppose merger - I agree - "criminal code" carries an air of formal codification that "penal code" does not. Cutler 20:57, 12 August 2007 (UTC)


 * Oppose - my understanding is that criminal codes set out the basis of criminal offences (but not penalties) and penal codes set out the basis of penalties by not the constituent elements of the crimes. On that basis I don't think they should be merged, but ought to cross refer to each other as related concepts. --Legis (talk - contribs) 18:36, 12 November 2007 (UTC)