It is declared that the public policy of this state and the general purposes of the provisions of this title are:

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Terms Used In Arizona Laws 13-101

  • Act: means a bodily movement. See Arizona Laws 13-105
  • Conduct: means an act or omission and its accompanying culpable mental state. See Arizona Laws 13-105
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Minor: means a person under eighteen years of age. See Arizona Laws 1-215
  • Omission: means the failure to perform an act as to which a duty of performance is imposed by law. See Arizona Laws 13-105

1. To proscribe conduct that unjustifiably and inexcusably causes or threatens substantial harm to individual or public interests;

2. To give fair warning of the nature of the conduct proscribed and of the sentences authorized upon conviction;

3. To define the act or omission and the accompanying mental state which constitute each offense and limit the condemnation of conduct as criminal when it does not fall within the purposes set forth;

4. To differentiate on reasonable grounds between serious and minor offenses and to prescribe proportionate penalties for each;

5. To insure the public safety by preventing the commission of offenses through the deterrent influence of the sentences authorized;

6. To impose just and deserved punishment on those whose conduct threatens the public peace; and

7. To promote truth and accountability in sentencing.