Legal Definitions - penal sanction

A penal sanction is a penalty or coercive measure that results from failure to comply with a law, rule, or order. It is a consequence for breaking the law.

• A fine or restitution imposed on a person convicted of a crime is a penal sanction.
• A court may dismiss a lawsuit or enter a default judgment against a party who has engaged in extreme discovery abuses or has shown an unwillingness to participate in the case. This is known as a death-penalty sanction.
• A shame sanction is a criminal sanction designed to stigmatize or disgrace a convicted offender. For example, requiring a convicted child molester to post a sign in their yard stating "Convicted Child Molester Lives Here" is a shame sanction.
• International sanctions are economic or military coercive measures taken by one or more countries toward another to force it to comply with international law. For example, the United Nations may impose sanctions against a renegade nation.

These examples illustrate how penal sanctions are used to enforce laws and rules and to hold individuals and entities accountable for their actions. They serve as a deterrent to prevent future violations and promote compliance with the law.