What is intent called in law?

Asked by: Edmond Rohan  |  Last update: August 18, 2025
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In Criminal Law, criminal intent, also known as mens rea , is one of two elements that must be proven in order to secure a conviction (the other being the actual act, or actus reus ). Some jurisdictions further classify intent into general and specific .

What is the legal term for intent?

In criminal law, intent is a subjective state of mind (mens rea) that must accompany the acts of certain crimes to constitute a violation. A more formal, generally synonymous legal term is scienter: intent or knowledge of wrongdoing.

What is intent also called?

The Internet, sometimes called simply "the Net," is a worldwide system of computer networks -- a network of networks in which users at any one computer can, if they have permission, get information from any other computer (and sometimes talk directly to users at other computers).

What is the law word for intention?

In English criminal law, intention is one of the types of mens rea (Latin for "guilty mind") that, when accompanied by an actus reus (Latin for "guilty act"), constitutes a crime.

What are the three types of intention?

An intention comprises of a specific state of mind, i.e. where you firmly intend to commit a crime. Negligence is regarded as that conduct which happened accidentally. The word dolus means intent. There are 3 types of intention in law, direct intention, indirect intention and lastly legal intention.

Intent | Criminal Law

17 related questions found

What are the 4 types of criminal intent?

There are four kinds of criminal intent: purposeful, knowing, reckless, and negligent.

What are the 2 types of intent?

Understanding Intent Types in Android: Explicit and Implicit Intents. Android, the world's most popular mobile operating system, offers a powerful and flexible mechanism called "intents" to facilitate communication and interaction between various components within an app and even between different apps.

What is an expression of intent in law?

The Expression of Intent is a brief document intended to provide an outline of the project, the team, and the impact and outcomes. Respondents are advised to submit a copy of the Expression of Intent to Respond Form (Appendix B)

What is a synonym for act with intention?

consciously deliberately explicitly expressly knowingly willfully. Strong matches. advisedly designedly. Weak matches. by design calculatedly on purpose prepensely purposedly.

What is the legal term for good intention?

bona fide implies good faith and sincerity of intention.

What is criminal intent also known as?

Criminal intent, also known as mens rea , refers to the mental state required to convict a party of a crime.

How do you prove intent in court?

Lack of intent is a defense to many crimes. An intent to commit a crime can be proven with either direct evidence or with circumstantial evidence. Proving that a criminal defendant intended to commit a crime is often one of the most important parts of a case.

What is the synonym of intent?

Some common synonyms of intent are aim, design, end, goal, intention, objective, object, and purpose.

What is intent in civil law?

Intent in civil cases

Conversely, prosecutors in civil cases don't necessarily have to prove intent for the defendant to be found guilty. A civil case in the DUI scenario, for example, only requires a driver to have breached their duty of operating a car with reasonable safety.

What is original intent in law?

The term original intent refers to the notion that the judiciary should interpret the Constitution (including its amendments) in accordance with the understanding of its framers.

What is the word for criminal intent?

Mens rea refers to criminal intent. The literal translation from Latin is " guilty mind ." The plural of mens rea is mentes reae . Mens rea​ is the state of mind statutorily required in order to convict a particular defendant of a particular crime.

What is the legal term for intention?

In Criminal Law, criminal intent, also known as mens rea , is one of two elements that must be proven in order to secure a conviction (the other being the actual act, or actus reus ). Some jurisdictions further classify intent into general and specific .

What is a better word for intention?

Some common synonyms of intention are aim, design, end, goal, intent, objective, object, and purpose. While all these words mean "what one intends to accomplish or attain," intention implies little more than what one has in mind to do or bring about.

What is another word for intentional act?

Some common synonyms of intentional are deliberate, voluntary, and willing.

What is the legal term letter of intent?

A letter of intent is a document outlining the intentions of two or more parties to do business together; it is often non-binding unless the language in the document specifies that the companies are legally bound to the terms.

What is intent for legal action?

Overall, a Notice of Intent to Sue is an important tool for anyone who is considering legal action against another party. By sending this notice, you can give the other party a chance to resolve the dispute and potentially avoid the need for court intervention.

What is a formal expression of intent?

Letters of Intent are used to express interest for one party to enter into a business relationship with another. The letter will outline the basic terms and conditions of the deal and serve as the basic initial agreement before more detailed and formal contracts are drawn up.

What is the difference between intent and intention in law?

They both mean a plan, or purpose, to do something. However, there is a difference in the way we use the words. Intent is used in more formal situations, such as in legal contexts, whereas intention is used in a wide range of situations; it is a more everyday word.

What is the most common definition of specific intent?

It implies that an individual not only intended to perform the act but also aimed to achieve a particular outcome or consequence through that act. In criminal law , specific intent crimes require proof that the defendant had a particular intention or goal when committing the offense .

What are the three common use cases for using an intent?

Below are some applications of Intents:
  • Sending the User to Another App.
  • Getting a Result from an Activity.
  • Allowing Other Apps to Start Your Activity.