New York is not a model penal code state. The Model Penal Code (MPC) is a model code created by the American Law Institute (ALI) in the 1950s and 1960s with the goal of providing a standardized and modernized criminal code for states to adopt. While some states have adopted the MPC in whole or in part, New York has not.
New York has its own penal code, which is based on common law principles and has undergone several revisions and updates over the years. The New York penal code is divided into several articles, each of which covers a specific aspect of criminal law, such as offenses against the person, offenses against property, and offenses against public order.
The New York penal code also includes provisions for sentencing, which vary depending on the severity of the crime and the offender’s criminal history. In New York, the sentencing guidelines are determined by judicial discretion and the New York State Sentencing Guidelines which are advisory in nature, rather than mandatory as in some other states that adopted MPC.
One major difference between the New York penal code and the MPC is that the MPC is based on a more modern and scientific understanding of criminal behavior and the causes of crime, while the New York penal code is rooted in traditional common law principles. The MPC also includes provisions for treatment and rehabilitation, which are not as prominent in the New York penal code.
In conclusion, New York is not a model penal code state. It has its own penal code which is based on common law principles and has undergone several revisions and updates over the years. While the MPC has been adopted by some states as a comprehensive code, New York has not adopted it in full and continues to rely on its own penal code.
Which states do not use the Model Penal Code?
In a total of 12 states and territories have adopted the Model Penal Code (MPC) in whole or in part. However, the remaining states and territories in the United States do not use the MPC as the basis of their criminal code.
The states that have not adopted the MPC include:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
It’s worth noting that while these states have not adopted the MPC as the basis of their criminal code, they may still be influenced by the MPC in some way. For example, some states may have adopted certain provisions of the MPC or have used them as a guide for revising their own criminal codes. Additionally, the MPC has been influential in shaping criminal law at the federal level, so even states that have not adopted the MPC may have criminal statutes that are based on the MPC or have been influenced by its principles.
Another point to consider is that the criminal codes of these states are based on traditional common law principles and have undergone several revisions and updates over the years. Some states have also developed their own sentencing guidelines and criminal justice system. For example, New York has its own penal code which is based on common law principles, and also has a system of judicial discretion when it comes to sentencing.
In conclusion, 38 states and territories in the United States do not use the Model Penal Code (MPC) as the basis of their criminal code. These states have their own criminal codes that are based on traditional common law principles and have undergone several revisions and updates over the years. While the MPC was intended to be adopted by states as a whole, it has not been uniformly adopted across the United States. Even though these states have not adopted the MPC, they may still be influenced by it in some way and have criminal statutes that are based on the MPC or have been influenced by its principles. Additionally, some states have developed their own sentencing guidelines and criminal justice system that are different from the MPC.

How Many States Use The Model Penal Code?
The Model Penal Code (MPC) was created by the American Law Institute (ALI) in the 1950s and 1960s with the goal of providing a standardized and modernized criminal code for states to adopt. The MPC is a comprehensive code that covers a wide range of criminal offenses, from murder to prostitution, as well as provisions for sentencing, defenses, and other aspects of criminal law.
While the MPC was intended to be adopted by states as a whole, it has not been uniformly adopted across the United States. Instead, different states have adopted different parts of the MPC or have used it as a guide for revising their own criminal codes. As of my knowledge cutoff (2021), a total of 12 states and territories have adopted the MPC in whole or in part.
The states that have adopted the MPC in whole or in part are:
- Alaska: Adopted the MPC as the basis of its criminal code in 1980.
- Arizona: Adopted the MPC as the basis of its criminal code in 1973.
- Delaware: Adopted the MPC as the basis of its criminal code in 1971
- Hawaii: Adopted the MPC as the basis of its criminal code in 1957.
- Idaho: Adopted the MPC as the basis of its criminal code in 1977.
- Louisiana: Adopted the MPC as the basis of its criminal code in 1974.
- Montana: Adopted the MPC as the basis of its criminal code in 1975.
- Nevada: Adopted the MPC as the basis of its criminal code in 1971.
- New Hampshire: Adopted the MPC as the basis of its criminal code in 1979.
- North Dakota: Adopted the MPC as the basis of its criminal code in 1975
- Oregon: Adopted the MPC as the basis of its criminal code in 1971.
- Puerto Rico: Adopted the MPC as the basis of its criminal code in 1971
It’s worth noting that some states that have adopted the MPC have made significant modifications to it, and in some cases have only adopted certain parts of it. Additionally, other states have used the MPC as a guide for revising their own criminal codes, but have not adopted it in full.
In addition to these 12 states, the MPC has also been influential in shaping criminal law at the federal level. Many federal criminal statutes are based on the MPC, and the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which were created in the 1980s, were heavily influenced by the MPC’s provisions for sentencing. The MPC has been used as a model for criminal codes in countries such as Canada and Australia, and its principles have been incorporated into international human rights treaties.
In conclusion, the Model Penal Code (MPC) was created by the American Law Institute (ALI) in the 1950s and 1960s to provide a standardized and modernized criminal code for states to adopt. As of my knowledge cutoff, a total of 12 states and territories have adopted the MPC in whole or in part. However, it’s important to note that some states that have adopted the MPC have made significant modifications to it, and in some cases have only adopted certain parts of it. Additionally, other states have used the MPC as a guide for revising their own criminal codes, but have not adopted it in full. Furthermore, the MPC has been influential in shaping criminal law at the federal level and also in other countries.