# Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-101: Objectives of criminal code

> Tennessee · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T39_C11_S39-11-101

## Section

- **Citation:** Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-101
- **Heading:** Objectives of criminal code
- **Jurisdiction:** Tennessee
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** TN Code / Title 39 / Chapter 11 / Section 39-11-101

## Text

The general objectives of the criminal code are to: (1) Proscribe and prevent conduct that unjustifiably and inexcusably causes or threatens harm to individual, property, or public interest for which protection through the criminal law is appropriate; (2) Give fair warning of what conduct is prohibited, and guide the exercise of official discretion in law enforcement, by defining the act and the culpable mental state that together constitute an offense; (3) Give fair warning of the consequences of violation, and guide the exercise of official discretion in punishment, by grading of offenses; and (4) Prescribe penalties that are proportionate to the seriousness of the offense. Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 1.
The general objectives of the criminal code are to:
(1) Proscribe and prevent conduct that unjustifiably and inexcusably causes or threatens harm to individual, property, or public interest for which protection through the criminal law is appropriate;
(2) Give fair warning of what conduct is prohibited, and guide the exercise of official discretion in law enforcement, by defining the act and the culpable mental state that together constitute an offense;
(3) Give fair warning of the consequences of violation, and guide the exercise of official discretion in punishment, by grading of offenses; and
(4) Prescribe penalties that are proportionate to the seriousness of the offense.
Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 1.

## Nearby sections

- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-101 Objectives of criminal code](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T39_C11_S39-11-101.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-102 Effect of criminal code](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T39_C11_S39-11-102.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-103 Territorial jurisdiction](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T39_C11_S39-11-103.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-104 Construction of criminal code](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T39_C11_S39-11-104.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-105 Computation of age](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T39_C11_S39-11-105.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-106 Title definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T39_C11_S39-11-106.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-109 Prosecution under more than one statute](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T39_C11_S39-11-109.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-110 Felonies and misdemeanors distinguished](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T39_C11_S39-11-110.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-111 Prohibited act when no penalty prescribed is misdemeanor](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T39_C11_S39-11-111.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-112 [Repealed] Repealed or amended laws - Application in prosecution for offense](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T39_C11_S39-11-112.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-113 Penalty for felony where punishment not prescribed](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T39_C11_S39-11-113.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-114 Penalty for misdemeanor where punishment not prescribed](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T39_C11_S39-11-114.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-115 Determination of value](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T39_C11_S39-11-115.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-117 Classification of first degree murder](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T39_C11_S39-11-117.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T39_C11_S39-11-101. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.