Legal Question in Criminal Law in Indiana

Mens Rea -- definition

It refers to the state of mind required to establish guilt.Generally it means the knowledge and appreciation of one's actions and the intent to do as done

definition mens rea

I agree with Jess --- another way of stating it is "the guilty mind" or "evil intent". Most criminal statutes require the element of mens rea or evil intent.

Mens Rea - Definition

According to the American Standard Law Dictionary

Mens Rea:

"Culpable mental state which, together with a defendant's act, constitutethe two basic elements of most crimes." The Mens Rea componetis required to convict a defendant in a specific intent crime.

Mens Rea - defined

Mens rea is Latin for "guilty mind." It is sometimes required that the prosecution prove "mens rea" in a criminal case. For instance, if a hunter shoots at a deer and bullet ricochets off the antlers and strikes another hunter, there is no assault because there was no mens rea (unless it was not deer season, but that's a whole nother story).

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Mens Rea -- Intent

Mens Rea is the required mental intent. In most crimes it is the generalintent to commit a crime. In some crimes a specific intent is required.Larceny and murder are both specific intent crimes.