
§ 1.02. OBJECTIVES OF CODE.  The general purposes of this 
code are to establish a system of prohibitions, penalties, and 
correctional measures to deal with conduct that unjustifiably and 
inexcusably causes or threatens harm to those individual or public 
interests for which state protection is appropriate.  To this end, 
the provisions of this code are intended, and shall be construed, to 
achieve the following objectives:
		(1)  to insure the public safety through:                                     
			(A)  the deterrent influence of the penalties 
hereinafter provided;        
			(B)  the rehabilitation of those convicted of 
violations of this code;  and
			(C)  such punishment as may be necessary to 
prevent likely recurrence of criminal behavior;
		(2)  by definition and grading of offenses to give fair 
warning of what is prohibited and of the consequences of violation;
		(3)  to prescribe penalties that are proportionate to 
the seriousness of offenses and that permit recognition of 
differences in rehabilitation possibilities among individual 
offenders;
		(4)  to safeguard conduct that is without guilt from 
condemnation as criminal;
		(5)  to guide and limit the exercise of official 
discretion in law enforcement to prevent arbitrary or oppressive 
treatment of persons suspected, accused, or convicted of offenses;  
and
		(6)  to define the scope of state interest in law 
enforcement against specific offenses and to systematize the 
exercise of state criminal jurisdiction.

Acts 1973, 63rd Leg., p. 883, ch. 399, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1974.  
Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 900, § 1.01, eff. Sept. 1, 
1994.

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Last modified: August 10, 2007