{"data":{"id":"us-ky/krs-500.080","jurisdiction":"us-ky","citation":"KRS 500.080","heading":"Definitions for Kentucky Penal Code.","body":"As used in the Kentucky Penal Code, unless the context otherwise requires:\n(1) \"Actor\" means any natural person and, where relevant, a corporation or an\nunincorporated association;\n(2) \"Crime\" means a misdemeanor or a felony;\n(3) \"Dangerous instrument\" mea ns any instrument, including parts of the human body\nwhen a serious physical injury is a direct result of the use of that part of the human\nbody, article, or substance which, under the circumstances in which it is used,\nattempted to be used, or threatened to be used, is readily capable of causing death or\nserious physical injury. \"Dangerous instrument\" may include a laser;\n(4) \"Deadly weapon\" means any of the following:\n(a) A weapon of mass destruction;\n(b) Any weapon from which a shot, readily capable of p roducing death or other\nserious physical injury, may be discharged;\n(c) Any knife other than an ordinary pocket knife or hunting knife;\n(d) Billy, nightstick, or club;\n(e) Blackjack or slapjack;\n(f) Nunchaku karate sticks;\n(g) Shuriken or death star; or\n(h) Artificial knuckles made from metal, plastic, or other similar hard material;\n(5) \"Felony\" means an offense for which a sentence to a term of imprisonment of at\nleast one (1) year in the custody of the Department of Corrections may be imposed;\n(6) \"Fentanyl derivative\" has the same meaning as in KRS 218A.010;\n(7) \"Government\" means the United States, any state, county, municipality, or other\npolitical unit, or any department, agency, or subdivision of any of the foregoing, or\nany corporation or other association carrying out the functions of government;\n(8) \"He\" means any natural person and, where relevant, a corporation or an\nunincorporated association;\n(9) \"Impacted by the disaster\" means the location or in reasonable proximi ty to the\nlocation where a natural or man -made disaster has caused physical injury, serious\nphysical injury, death, or substantial damage to property or infrastructure;\n(10) \"Laser\" means any device designed or used to amplify electromagnetic radiation by\nstimulated emission that emits a beam, other than a medical laser when used in\nmedical treatment or surgery;\n(11) \"Law\" includes statutes, ordinances, and properly adopted regulatory provisions.\nUnless the context otherwise clearly requires, \"law\" also includes the common law;\n(12) \"Minor\" means any person who has not reached the age of majority as defined in\nKRS 2.015;\n(13) \"Misdemeanor\" means an offense, other than a traffic infraction, for which a\nsentence to a term of imprisonment of not more than twelv e (12) months can be\nimposed;\n(14) \"Natural or man -made disaster\" means a tornado, storm, or other severe weather,\nearthquake, flood, or fire that poses a significant threat to human health and safety,\nproperty, or critical infrastructure;\n(15) \"Offense\" means conduct for which a sentence to a term of imprisonment or to a\nfine is provided by any law of this state or by any law, local law, or ordinance of a\npolitical subdivision of this state or by any law, order, rule, or regulation of any\ngovernmental instrumentality authorized by law to adopt the same;\n(16) \"Person\" means a human being, and where appropriate, a public or private\ncorporation, an unincorporated association, a partnership, a government, or a\ngovernmental authority;\n(17) \"Physical injury\" mean s substantial physical pain or any impairment of physical\ncondition;\n(18) \"Possession\" means to have actual physical possession or otherwise to exercise\nactual dominion or control over a tangible object;\n(19) \"Serious physical injury\" means physical injury  which creates a substantial risk of\ndeath, or which causes serious and prolonged disfigurement, prolonged impairment\nof health, prolonged loss or impairment of the function of any bodily organ, or eye\ndamage or visual impairment. For a child twelve (12) y ears of age or less at the\ntime of the injury, or for any person if the relationship between the perpetrator and\nthe victim meets the definition of a family member or member of an unmarried\ncouple as defined in KRS 403.720, or a dating relationship as defi ned in KRS\n456.010, a serious physical injury includes but is not limited to the following:\n(a) Bruising near the eyes, or on the head, neck, or lower back overlying the\nkidneys;\n(b) Any bruising severe enough to cause underlying muscle damage as\ndetermined by elevated creatine kinase levels in the blood;\n(c) Any bruising or soft tissue injury to the genitals that affects the ability to\nurinate or defecate;\n(d) Any testicular injury sufficient to put fertility at risk;\n(e) Any burn near the eyes or involving the mouth, airway, or esophagus;\n(f) Any burn deep enough to leave scarring or dysfunction of the body;\n(g) Any burn requiring hospitalization, debridement in the operating room, IV\nfluids, intubation, or admission to a hospital's intensive care unit;\n(h) Rib fracture;\n(i) Scapula or sternum fractures;\n(j) Any broken bone that requires surgery;\n(k) Head injuries that result in intracranial bleeding, skull fracture, or brain\ninjury;\n(l) A concussion that results in the child becoming limp, unresponsive, or results\nin seizure activity;\n(m) Abdominal injuries that indicate internal organ damage regardle ss of whether\nsurgery is required;\n(n) Any injury requiring surgery;\n(o) Any injury that requires a blood transfusion; and\n(p) Any injury requiring admission to a hospital's critical care unit;\n(20) \"Unlawful\" means contrary to law or, where the context so  requires, not permitted\nby law. It does not mean wrongful or immoral;\n(21) \"Violation\" means an offense, other than a traffic infraction, for which a sentence to\na fine only can be imposed; and\n(22) \"Weapon of mass destruction\" means:\n(a) Any destructive device as defined in KRS 237.030, but not fireworks as\ndefined in KRS 227.700;\n(b) Any weapon that is designed or intended to cause death or serious physical\ninjury through the release, dissemination, or impact of toxic or poisonous\nchemicals or their precursors;\n(c) Any weapon involving a disease organism; or\n(d) Any weapon that is designed to release radiation or radioactivity at a level\ndangerous to human life.","path":["KRS Chapter 500"],"source_url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=55475","current_through":"Includes enactments through the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"09/05/2026","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T20:59:59Z","sha256":"b7a7b62e8e81e385bfd1a65774750ca6d3fa6ac0fd53a4118a5680823fee394a","source_id":"us-ky","stale":false,"prev":"us-ky/krs-500.070","next":"us-ky/krs-500.090"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}