Mens Rea Quotes

It is a fundamental principle of criminal law that an imputed offense must correspond exactly to the type of crime described by law. If no law applies exactly to the point in question, then there is no offense.

it is not the deed but the intention that makes the crime.

The guilty is he who meditates a crime; the punishment is his who lays the plot.

The laws do not take upon them to punish any other than overt acts.

We don't want to put people in jail unless we prove that they knew they were doing something they shouldn't do.

There is no such crime as a crime of thought; there are only crimes of action.

the act does not create guilt unless the mind is also guilty.

But I wonder where we will land if trial judges begin deciding that the fact that a man has committed an atrocious crime is proof sufficient that he is not responsible for his acts.

You know, the next time you're guilty of anything, the next time you're charged with anything, try saying, "Hey, hey, hey, I didn't mean to run the stop sign." Or, "I didn't mean to leave the bar and get behind the wheel. I really didn't. I didn't mean to get behind the wheel after having some adult beverages." See if that works for you. And if you're saying it's not the same thing, yes, it is.

If conduct is intentional, it could subject some of the criminal liability.

The crime of homicide, be it either accidental or voluntary, does not permit of suffering the same penalty, because on one case the full penalty must be exacted and in the other there should have been mercy.