Model Penal Code Reference
The Model Penal Code is the foundation of modern American criminal law. Study the 27 most important sections with clear summaries, key provisions, common law comparisons, and exam tips — organized by article.
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Article 2 — General Principles of Liability
8 sections covered
Requirement of Voluntary Act
Section 2.01 establishes the foundational requirement that criminal liability must be based on conduct that includes a voluntary act or the omission t...
General Requirements of Culpability
Section 2.02 is widely considered the most important provision of the Model Penal Code. It establishes a hierarchical system of four culpability level...
Causal Relationship Between Conduct and Result
Section 2.03 addresses causation — the requirement that a defendant's conduct be the cause of a prohibited result. The MPC takes a significantly diffe...
Ignorance or Mistake
Section 2.04 codifies the defense of ignorance or mistake of fact or law. Under Section 2.04(1), ignorance or mistake is a defense when it negatives t...
Liability for Conduct of Another; Complicity
Section 2.06 governs accomplice liability, establishing when a person is legally accountable for the conduct of another person. Under the MPC, a perso...
Liability of Corporations and Unincorporated Associations
Section 2.07 addresses the criminal liability of corporations, unincorporated associations, and persons acting or under a duty to act on their behalf....
Intoxication
Section 2.08 addresses the effect of intoxication on criminal liability. The MPC treats intoxication as relevant to the culpability analysis but with ...
Duress
Section 2.09 establishes the defense of duress under the Model Penal Code. It provides that it is an affirmative defense that the actor engaged in the...
Article 3 — General Principles of Justification
4 sections covered
Justification Generally: Choice of Evils
Section 3.02 codifies the necessity (choice of evils) defense. It provides that conduct that the actor believes to be necessary to avoid a harm or evi...
Use of Force in Self-Protection
Section 3.04 governs the use of force in self-defense. The actor is justified in using force upon another person when they believe such force is immed...
Use of Force for the Protection of Other Persons
Section 3.05 extends the self-defense principles of Section 3.04 to the protection of third parties. The actor is justified in using force to protect ...
Mistake of Law as to Unlawfulness of Force or Legality of Arrest; Reckless or Negligent Use of Otherwise Justifiable Force
Section 3.09 is a critical provision that addresses errors in the use of justifiable force. It establishes what happens when a defendant honestly but ...
Article 4 — Responsibility
1 section covered
Article 5 — Inchoate Crimes
3 sections covered
Criminal Attempt
Section 5.01 defines criminal attempt under the MPC. A person is guilty of an attempt to commit a crime if, acting with the kind of culpability otherw...
Criminal Solicitation
Section 5.02 defines criminal solicitation. A person is guilty of solicitation to commit a crime if, with the purpose of promoting or facilitating its...
Criminal Conspiracy
Section 5.03 defines criminal conspiracy under the MPC. A person is guilty of conspiracy if, with the purpose of promoting or facilitating the commiss...
Article 210 — Criminal Homicide
4 sections covered
Criminal Homicide
Section 210.1 provides the overarching definition of criminal homicide under the Model Penal Code. A person is guilty of criminal homicide if they pur...
Murder
Section 210.2 defines murder under the MPC. Criminal homicide constitutes murder when it is committed purposely or knowingly, or when it is committed ...
Manslaughter
Section 210.3 defines manslaughter under the MPC. Criminal homicide constitutes manslaughter when it is committed recklessly, or when a homicide that ...
Negligent Homicide
Section 210.4 defines negligent homicide as criminal homicide committed negligently. It is graded as a felony of the third degree. Under the MPC, negl...
Article 211 — Assault; Reckless Endangering; Threats
1 section covered
Article 220 — Arson, Criminal Mischief, and Other Property Destruction
1 section covered
Article 221 — Burglary and Other Criminal Intrusion
1 section covered
Article 223 — Theft and Related Offenses
1 section covered