Legal Definitions - penal

Definition: In law, "penal" refers to punishments or crimes. It is used to describe things related to criminal offenses.

Examples:

• A penal code is a set of laws that deal with criminal offenses, such as the California Penal Code or the Texas Penal Code.
• A penal institution is a place where people who have been convicted of committing crimes are held, such as a prison or jail.
• A penal action is a legal action taken to impose a penalty on someone who has committed a crime that has harmed the public.
• Penal liability is the legal responsibility that comes with committing a crime.
• Penal sanctions are punishments given to someone who has been found guilty of a crime, such as a fine or imprisonment.

These examples illustrate how "penal" is used to describe things related to criminal offenses, such as laws, punishments, and institutions.