Editing Penal Code of Japan (section)

== Criminal function ==

; Regulatory function

The function that clarifies the evaluation of actions is called the regulatory function. By describing certain acts as crimes, criminalizing those who do such actions by punishing for criminal acts, it helps to keep the general public from committing those acts.

; Protective function (legal protection function)

The function of protecting legal interests and maintaining order in social life by adding sanctions to infringement of certain legal interests (profit that should be protected by law) is called a protective function. Also known as order maintenance function. 

; Guarantee function (human rights guarantee function)

The criminal law stipulates certain acts as crimes, and the punishment for them is specified in advance. General citizens are not punished unless they commit a crime, and criminals are punished only within that range. In this way, the function that guarantees the freedom of the general public and those who commit crimes by limiting the use of the state's punishment right is called a [[Guarantee|guarantee function.]] Also called Magna Carta function.