Pa. Cons. Stat. » 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. (CRIMES AND OFFENSES) / Chapter 1

18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 104

 Purposes.

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§ 104.  Purposes.

The general purposes of this title are:

(1)  To forbid and prevent conduct that unjustifiably inflicts or threatens substantial harm to individual or public interest.

(2)  To safeguard conduct that is without fault from condemnation as criminal.

(3)  To safeguard offenders against excessive, disproportionate or arbitrary punishment.

(4)  To give fair warning of the nature of the conduct declared to constitute an offense, and of the sentences that may be imposed on conviction of an offense.

(5)  To differentiate on reasonable grounds between serious and minor offenses, and to differentiate among offenders with a view to a just individualization in their treatment.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 24 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1976–2025 · leading case: Commonwealth v. Parker White Metal Co.
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Commonwealth v. Parker White Metal Co. (1986) pa · cites it 6× “Among the purposes of all criminal legislation is: 1) to safeguard offenders against excessive, disproportionate or arbitrary punishment (18 Pa.C.S. § 104(3)); 2) to give fair warning of the nature of the conduct declared to constitute an offense and of the sentences that may be…”
Commonwealth v. Bavusa (2003) pa · cites it 2× “See 18 Pa.C.S. § 104(3), (5). While another express purpose is to forbid and prevent conduct that unjustifiably inflicts or threatens substantial harm to individual or public interests, this purpose would seem to be accommodated by merely recognizing the General Assembly's…”
Commonwealth v. Bell (1986) pa · cites it 2× “See 18 Pa.C.S. § 104. [6] The trial court also held that section 9712 violated due process and equal protection by restricting appellate review in mandatory minimum sentencing cases.”
C.C.H. v. Philadelphia Phillies, Inc. (2008) pa · cites it 2× “The basis for my disagreement is twofold. First, in my view, the policies that led the General Assembly to criminalize sexual contact with a minor under 13 irrespective of the minor's consent are inapt in this civil setting.”
Commonwealth v. Carr (1984) pa · cites it 4× “The general purposes of the Crimes Code are stated at 18 Pa.C.S. § 104 and include, as relevant to the issue now before the Court, the following: (4) To give warning of the nature of the conduct declared to constitute an offense.”
Commonwealth v. Weiskerger (1989) pa · cites it 2× “There is no statement in the Crimes Code that the legislature intended its adoption as a sweeping change of the definition of crimes and/or defenses.”
Commonwealth, Aplt. v. Lynn, W. (2015) pa “See 18 Pa.C.S. § 104(4). 1 Another is to prevent conduct that unjustifiably inflicts or threatens substantial harm.”
Commonwealth v. Harper (1986) pa · cites it 2× “Under the present Crimes Code, the Legislature has set forth specific sections precluding multiple punishment only in the most limited circumstance. See 18 Pa.”
Commonwealth v. Mlinarich (1988) pa “18 Pa.C.S. § 104. It expressed one of its objectives as being “[t]o differentiate on reasonable grounds between serious and minor offenses, and to differentiate, among offenders with a view to a just individualization in their treatment.”
Commonwealth v. Ferrer (1980) pasuperct “18 Pa.C.S. § 104. 5 . The versions of what appellant has said given by other Commonwealth witnesses, see note 1, supra, as well as appellant’s own version (“The lying confession was going to cost him and his kids.”
In the Interest of Golden (1976) pasuperct “” Crimes Code, 18 Pa.C.S. § 104(5) (1973). It is difficult for me to justify placing a person who entered a building with the intent to illegally drink alcoholic beverages or commit some other summary offense in the same category with one who entered the dwelling of another with…”
Commonwealth v. Minnich (1995) pasuperct “…id., § 3301(a). . (N.T., 2/10/94, pp. 3-4.) . Appellant herein does not assert either basis of increased scrutiny. . 18 Pa.C.S. § 104(3). . Id., § 104(5).”
Show all 24 citing cases →
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 104(1) — 2 cases
In the Interest of R.A. (2000) pasuperct
In Re RA (2000) pasuperct
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 104(3) — 11 cases
Commonwealth v. Bavusa (2003) pa “See 18 Pa.C.S. § 104(3), (5). While another express purpose is to forbid and prevent conduct that unjustifiably inflicts or threatens substantial harm to individual or public interests, this purpose would seem to be accommodated by merely recognizing the General Assembly's…”
Commonwealth v. Parker White Metal Co. (1986) pa “Among the purposes of all criminal legislation is: 1) to safeguard offenders against excessive, disproportionate or arbitrary punishment (18 Pa.C.S. § 104(3)); 2) to give fair warning of the nature of the conduct declared to constitute an offense and of the sentences that may be…”
Commonwealth v. Weiskerger (1989) pa “There is no statement in the Crimes Code that the legislature intended its adoption as a sweeping change of the definition of crimes and/or defenses.”
Commonwealth v. Minnich (1995) pasuperct “…id., § 3301(a). . (N.T., 2/10/94, pp. 3-4.) . Appellant herein does not assert either basis of increased scrutiny. . 18 Pa.C.S. § 104(3). . Id., § 104(5).”
Commonwealth v. Greenich (1992) pasuperct
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 104(4) — 6 cases
Commonwealth v. Parker White Metal Co. (1986) pa “Among the purposes of all criminal legislation is: 1) to safeguard offenders against excessive, disproportionate or arbitrary punishment (18 Pa.C.S. § 104(3)); 2) to give fair warning of the nature of the conduct declared to constitute an offense and of the sentences that may be…”
Commonwealth, Aplt. v. Lynn, W. (2015) pa “See 18 Pa.C.S. § 104(4). 1 Another is to prevent conduct that unjustifiably inflicts or threatens substantial harm.”
Commonwealth v. Carr (1984) pa “The general purposes of the Crimes Code are stated at 18 Pa.C.S. § 104 and include, as relevant to the issue now before the Court, the following: (4) To give warning of the nature of the conduct declared to constitute an offense.”
Commonwealth v. Kemp (1992) pactcomplwestmo
T. Dockery v. T. Wolf, Gov. of PA (2021) pacommwct
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 104(5) — 2 cases
Commonwealth v. Parker White Metal Co. (1986) pa “Among the purposes of all criminal legislation is: 1) to safeguard offenders against excessive, disproportionate or arbitrary punishment (18 Pa.C.S. § 104(3)); 2) to give fair warning of the nature of the conduct declared to constitute an offense and of the sentences that may be…”
In the Interest of Golden (1976) pasuperct “” Crimes Code, 18 Pa.C.S. § 104(5) (1973). It is difficult for me to justify placing a person who entered a building with the intent to illegally drink alcoholic beverages or commit some other summary offense in the same category with one who entered the dwelling of another with…”
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