Ordinance 466A-77 - Laserfiche WebLink

• • SECTION 2. Purposes; principles of construction; • 1. The general purposes of the provisions of this ordinance are: (a) To ensure the public safety by preventing the commission of offenses through the deterrent influence of the sentences authorized, the correction and rehabilitation of those convicted, and their confinement • when required in the interests of public protection. (b) To forbid and prevent conduct that unjustifiably and inexcusably inflicts or threatens harm to • individuals or public interests. (c) To give fair warning of the nature of the conduct declared to constitute en offense and of the sentences • authorized upon conviction. (d) To define. the set or omission and the ecce!pr..nyir1g • • mental state that consitt4each offense and limit the of ` • condemnation conduct as criminal when it is vu thous . fault. • (e) To difi'ereiitit: to On rensonal.)h i;.:oui)d 5 between r^ serious and minor offenses. • (1) To proscribe penalties which arc rc pr c p wti:.-inate is . to the s eri_oi.sne as of offenses and ;••,T;i-ioh permit rccoi nition of differences in rehabilitation possiblitics among individual offenders. . (g) To safeguard offenders against e.i:.c:essiY e , dis-- - proportionate or arbitrary punishment. • 2. The provisions of this title shall lie construed according to the fair'import of their terms but when the language is susceptible of differing consftuctioro; it shell be interpreted to further the general purposes stated in . . this title and the special purposes of the particular provisions involved . The discretionary powers conferred by this Title shall be exercised in accordance with the criteria stated in this Title and , insofar as such criteria are not to further the %gencaal purposes stated in this section.