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California Statutes

§ 4. — 4. (Enacted 1872.)

California § 4.
JurisdictionCalifornia
Code PENPenal Code - PEN

This text of California § 4. (4. (Enacted 1872.)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Cal. Penal Code - PEN Code § 4. (2026).

Text

The rule of the common law, that penal statutes are to be strictly construed, has no application to this Code. All its provisions are to be construed according to the fair import of their terms, with a view to effect its objects and to promote justice.

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Legislative History

Enacted 1872.

Nearby Sections

15
§ 4.
4. (Enacted 1872.)
§ 4000.
4000. (Amended by Stats. 2011, 1st Ex. Sess., Ch. 12, Sec. 34.)
§ 4000.5.
4000.5. (Added by Stats. 1989, Ch. 897, Sec. 44.)
§ 4001.
4001. (Amended by Stats. 1975, Ch. 592.)
§ 4001.1.
4001.1. (Added by Stats. 1989, Ch. 901, Sec. 3.)
§ 4001.2.
4001.2. (Added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 281, Sec. 1.)
§ 4002.
4002. (Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 50, Sec. 74.)
§ 4002.5.
4002.5. (Added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 944, Sec. 1.)
§ 4003.
4003. (Added by Stats. 1941, Ch. 106.)
§ 4004.
4004. (Amended by Stats. 1998, Ch. 931, Sec. 433.)
§ 4004.5.
4004.5. (Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 872, Sec. 123.)
§ 4005.
4005. (Amended by Stats. 1986, Ch. 523, Sec. 1.)
§ 4006.
4006. (Added by Stats. 1941, Ch. 106.)
§ 4006.5.
4006.5. (Added by Stats. 1997, Ch. 468, Sec. 1.)
§ 4007.
4007. (Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 784, Sec. 562.)
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California § 4., Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/statute/ca/PEN/4..