The Model Penal Code (MPC) is a comprehensive set of criminal law guidelines created by the American Law Institute in 1962. It aims to standardize and modernize criminal laws across the United States, providing a framework for defining crimes and their penalties. The MPC serves as a reference for state legislatures when drafting or revising their own criminal codes. The MPC categorizes offenses into different classifications, such as felonies and misdemeanors, and outlines various mental states, like negligence and recklessness, that determine culpability. While not law itself, the MPC has significantly influenced many state laws and legal practices in the U.S.