penal code(A criminal code (or penal code) is a document which compiles all, or a significant amount of, a particular jurisdiction's criminal law. Typically a criminal code will contain offences which are recognised in the jurisdiction, penalties which might be imposed for these offences and some general provisions (such as definitions and prohibitions on retroactive prosecution).[1] Criminal codes are relatively common in civil law jurisdictions, which tend to build legal systems around codes and principles which are relatively abstract and apply them on a case by case basis. Conversely they are rare in common law jurisdictions. Wiki. обычно в странах общего права, в России и СНГ – Criminal Code; можно употреблять для дифференциации с Гражданским кодексом (Civil Code), который сокращается как CC. Alexander Demidov)