Which statement best defines general intent crimes?

Which statement best defines general intent crimes?

• A. The knowing, voluntary doing of an act that is prohibited.
• B. The defendant must have a specific illegal objective in mind.
• C. There is no mental state required for the act.
• D. The crime is completed upon performing the prohibited act.

Answer: (B)

General intent crimes hinge on the offender’s mindset to perform the prohibited act itself. You only need the intent to do the act, not a plan to achieve a particular illegal result. That’s why the statement describing knowingly and voluntarily doing the prohibited act fits general intent best. It isn’t about a specific objective or purpose beyond carrying out the act. This differs from specific intent crimes, which require an extra aim or purpose beyond simply doing the act. It also means that general intent does involve a mental state—the defendant must intend to perform the act—so saying there’s no mental state required is incorrect. And the idea that a crime is complete merely upon performing the act speaks to actus reus more than the mental state defining general intent.

General intent crimes hinge on the offender’s mindset to perform the prohibited act itself. You only need the intent to do the act, not a plan to achieve a particular illegal result. That’s why the statement describing knowingly and voluntarily doing the prohibited act fits general intent best. It isn’t about a specific objective or purpose beyond carrying out the act.

This differs from specific intent crimes, which require an extra aim or purpose beyond simply doing the act. It also means that general intent does involve a mental state—the defendant must intend to perform the act—so saying there’s no mental state required is incorrect. And the idea that a crime is complete merely upon performing the act speaks to actus reus more than the mental state defining general intent.