The Penal Code for the Year 1960
Article (1)
This law is called “The Penal Code for the year 1960” and will come into effect one
month after its publication in the Official Gazette.
Article (2)
Phrases and words contained in this Law have meanings assigned to it below unless
evidence shows otherwise:
The Kingdom: The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
The term (judicial procedures) includes: all procedures taken before any court, or
public prosecutor, or the Judicial Council, or an investigative committee or a person
whom a testimony may be performed before after taking the oath whether such court
or the Judicial Council or the Committee or the person hears the testimony after
swearing in the witness or without doing so.
The term (house of residence) means: a place or any section of a building designated
for residential use by the owner or tenant or their respective family, guests, or
servants, even if at the time of the crime it was vacant. It also includes all premises
and facilities attached to it within the boundaries of the residence fence.
The term (public highway) means: every road allowed for public traffic at all times
and with no restriction, including bridges and all roads connecting the cities or
countries together, and excluding markets, piazzas, squares and streets located within
cities, towns or villages and rivers.
The term (public place) means: every road, place or route allowed for passage through
or entrance into by the public with no restrictions, or with restriction of payment of a
sum of money. It also includes every building or place used for a public meeting or a
public or religious ceremony or an open arena.
The term (night) or (at night) means: the period of time falling between sunset and
sunrise.
The word (wound) means: every cut or slash which gashes the external human body
tissues. For the purposes of this definition a tissue is considered to be external if it
could be touched without the need to cut slash any other tissue.
Book One
General Provisions
TITLE ONE
The Criminal Law
Chapter One
Of the Operative Period of a Criminal Law
Article (3)