What is the concept of criminal intent?

Outline and discuss the concept of criminal intent?

• Answer:

  INTENT - The determination or resolve to do a certain thing, or the state of mind with which something is done. 'Mens rea' is a Latin term meaning "guilty mind." It refers to the criminal intent that is necessary as an element to be proven in a crime. Many civil law claims also include some level of mens rea as a required element. The four levels of mens rea/criminal intent set forth in the Model Penal Code are (1) Purposely - Express purpose to commit a specific crime against a particular person. (2) Knowingly - Knowledge that one's actions would certainly result in a crime against someone, but did not specifically intend to commit that crime against the particular victim which one is accused of injuring. (3) Recklessly - Knew that one's actions had an unjustifiable risk of leading to a certain result, but did not care about that risk ("reckless disregard"), and acted anyway. (4) Negligently - Did not intend to cause the result that happened, but failed to exercise a reasonable duty of care to prevent that result (which includes failing to become aware of the risk of that result).