Everything You Need to Know About the Intent to Commit a Crime and What it Means from a Legal Standpoint

Everything You Need to Know About the Intent to Commit a Crime and What it Means from a Legal Standpoint

In some cases, a prosecutor must prove that a criminal had the intent to commit a crime in order to get a conviction. How can a prosecutor prove intent? And how can you fight against these types of accusations? Keep reading to get the facts and then contact Chambers Law Firm at 714-760-4088 for a free legal consultation.

The Basics of Criminal Culpability

According to criminal law, when a person does something illegal with intent, it is worse than when they do not do it on purpose. That is why intent is taken into consideration. When a criminal statute requires it, a prosecutor might have to prove both that a crime was committed and that the defendant had the intent to commit the crime. One example is theft crimes, which generally require intent.

Culpability involves proving the Model Penal Code, which involves four legal terms of culpability. They include intent to commit a crime, acting with the knowledge that the actions they are taking will involve committing a crime, behaving recklessly or with willful and wanton disregard for others’ safety, and negligently putting other people at risk of unreasonable harm.

Specific Intent Crimes

There are also crimes known as specific intent crimes that require that the defendant intended to achieve specific results and/or knowledge of specific information. These include theft, possession of unregistered firearms under the National Firearms Act, and burglary. With these crimes, proving general intent is not enough – the prosecutor must show that the defendant had a specific intent.

General Intent Crimes

On the other hand, general intent offenses are those in which there is no specific criminal intent that must be proven. It is enough for the prosecution to prove that the defendant was acting in a culpable mental state. Examples of this include arson in which a person had the intent to set fire, battery in which a person willfully touched someone violently or offensively, and drug possession in which the person knew they had a controlled substance.

Strict Liability Crimes

There are also crimes that do not require that intent is proven. For these crimes, the prosecutor need only prove that a crime was committed. Examples including DUI in which the defendant is under the influence of drugs or alcohol above legal limits is enough for a conviction, and statutory rape, which only requires that the defendant had sex with a person under the age of consent.

Call Now for a Free Legal Consultation

If you are facing charges or criminal accusations, we strongly recommend that you contact Chambers Law Firm at 714-760-4088 for a free legal consultation. We are standing by to help you find the best way forward.

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