TCA 39-11-301
Requirement of culpable mental state
PENDINGUnknown
What does this charge mean?
Every crime requires that the defendant acted with a guilty mental state—either intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence, depending on what the specific crime requires. A higher level of guilty mind (like intentional) automatically satisfies a requirement for a lower level (like reckless), but not the reverse.
Penalty Details
ClassificationUnknown
Penalty SummaryClassification not specified
(a) (1) A person commits an offense who acts intentionally, knowingly, recklessly or with criminal negligence, as the definition of the offense requires, with respect to each element of the offense. (2) When the law provides that criminal negligence suffices to establish an element of an offense, that element is also established if a person acts intentionally, knowingly or recklessly. When recklessness suffices to establish an element, that element is also established if a person acts intentionally or knowingly. When acting knowingly suffices to establish an element, that element is also established if a person acts intentionally. (b) A culpable mental state is required within this title unless the definition of an offense plainly dispenses with a mental element. (c) If the definition of an offense within this title does not plainly dispense with a mental element, intent, knowledge or recklessness suffices to establish the culpable mental state.
View on official sourceLast verified: Feb 25, 2026
Quick Facts
PENDING
TCA Section39-11-301