TCA 39-11-302
Definitions of culpable mental state
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What does this charge mean?
"Intentional" means the defendant consciously wanted to do the act or cause the result. "Knowing" means the defendant was aware of what they were doing or that a result was substantially certain to happen. "Reckless" means the defendant was aware of a substantial risk but ignored it anyway, showing a serious disregard for safety. "Criminal negligence" means the defendant should have been aware of a substantial risk but failed to recognize it.
Penalty Details
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Penalty SummaryClassification not specified
(a) “Intentional” refers to a person who acts intentionally with respect to the nature of the conduct or to a result of the conduct when it is the person’s conscious objective or desire to engage in the conduct or cause the result. (b) “Knowing” refers to a person who acts knowingly with respect to the conduct or to circumstances surrounding the conduct when the person is aware of the nature of the conduct or that the circumstances exist. A person acts knowingly with respect to a result of the person’s conduct when the person is aware that the conduct is reasonably certain to cause the result. (c) “Reckless” refers to a person who acts recklessly with respect to circumstances surrounding the conduct or the result of the conduct when the person is aware of but consciously disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk that the circumstances exist or the result will occur. The risk must be of such a nature and degree that its disregard constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of care that an ordinary person would exercise under all the circumstances as viewed from the accused person’s standpoint. (d) “Criminal negligence” refers to a person who acts with criminal negligence with respect to the circumstances surrounding that person’s conduct or the result of that conduct when the person ought to be aware of a substantial and unjustifiable risk that the circumstances exist or the result will occur. The risk must be of such a nature and degree that the failure to perceive it constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of care that an ordinary person would exercise under all the circumstances as viewed from the accused person’s standpoint.
View on official sourceLast verified: Feb 25, 2026
Quick Facts
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TCA Section39-11-302