Involuntary intoxication can be a defense to which category of crimes?

Involuntary intoxication can be a defense to which category of crimes?

• A. Only to strict liability crimes
• B. General intent crimes
• C. Specific intent crimes only
• D. No crimes

Answer: (B)

Involuntary intoxication can defeat the mental state required to commit a crime, because the person did not choose or control being intoxicated and thus may not have formed the necessary intent. General intent crimes only require the defendant to intend to perform the act itself; if intoxication prevents forming even that basic intent, the essential element is not proven. Strict liability offenses do not require any mental state, so there’s nothing to negate. Specific intent crimes require a more particular aim or knowledge, and while some jurisdictions treat involuntary intoxication as a defense there, the option focusing on general intent best captures how involuntary intoxication undermines the required mens rea for those offenses.

Involuntary intoxication can defeat the mental state required to commit a crime, because the person did not choose or control being intoxicated and thus may not have formed the necessary intent. General intent crimes only require the defendant to intend to perform the act itself; if intoxication prevents forming even that basic intent, the essential element is not proven. Strict liability offenses do not require any mental state, so there’s nothing to negate. Specific intent crimes require a more particular aim or knowledge, and while some jurisdictions treat involuntary intoxication as a defense there, the option focusing on general intent best captures how involuntary intoxication undermines the required mens rea for those offenses.