mens rea

mens rea
mens rea /'menz-'rē-ə, -'rā-/ n pl men·tes re·ae /'men-ˌtēz-'rē-ˌē, 'men-ˌtās-'rā-ˌī/ [New Latin, literally, guilty mind]: a culpable mental state; esp: one involving intent or knowledge and forming an element of a criminal offense
murder contains a mens rea element compare actus reus

Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law. . 1996.

mens rea
noun criminal design, criminal guilt, criminal intent, criminal purpose, criminality, culpability, vice, wrong, wrongdoing

Burton's Legal Thesaurus. . 2006


mens rea
n.
The mental state that occurs when committing a crime, i.e., guilt, criminal intent, or knowledge that a crime is being committed; one of the four mental states in which a crime may be committed, i.e., intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or negligently.

The Essential Law Dictionary. — Sphinx Publishing, An imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. . 2008.


mens rea
'guilty mind', the term used to describe the mental element required to constitute a crime. Generally it requires that the accused meant or intended to do wrong or at least knew he was doing wrong. The precise element varies from crime to crime.

Collins dictionary of law. . 2001.


mens rea
(menz-ray-ah) The mental component of criminal liability. To be guilty of most crimes, a defendant must have committed the criminal act in a certain mental state (the mens rea). The mens rea of robbery, for example, is the intent to permanently deprive the owner of his property. Compare: actus reus
Category: Criminal Law
Category: Small Claims Court & Lawsuits

Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary. . 2009.


mens rea
n. Latin The defendant's guilty state of mind, as an element in proving the crime with which he or she is charged.

Webster's New World Law Dictionary. . 2000.


mens rea
As an element of criminal responsibility, a guilty mind; a guilty or wrongful purpose; a criminal intent. Guilty knowledge and willfulness.

Dictionary from West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005.


mens rea
I
As an element of criminal responsibility, a guilty mind; a guilty or wrongful purpose; a criminal intent. Guilty knowledge and wilfulness.
 II The "guilty mind" necessary to establish criminal responsibility.

Short Dictionary of (mostly American) Legal Terms and Abbreviations.

mens rea
[menz ray-ah]
n.
   Latin for a "guilty mind," or criminal intent in committing the act.
   See also: crime, intent

Law dictionary. . 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Mens rea — es un término latino (que se puede traducir como mente culpable ) utilizado en el derecho penal. La prueba estandar en el derecho anglosajón para determinar la responsabilidad criminal se suele expresar con la frase latina, actus non facit reum… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Mens rea — est le terme latin signifiant l esprit criminel (ou l intention de commettre une infraction criminelle). L intention d un individu est un élément essentiel d un crime dans les juridictions de common law. Le test de la responsabilité criminelle d… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Mens rea — ist der lateinische Terminus für den im Strafrecht gebräuchlichen Begriff subjektiver Tatbestand. Er setzt sich zusammen aus den Lateinischen Wörtern mens, zu übersetzen mit Bewusstsein, Geist, Verstand sowie reus, das mit Angeklagter übersetzt… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • mens rea — Latin phrase meaning guilty mind …   Etymology dictionary

  • Mens rea — Criminal law Part of …   Wikipedia

  • mens rea — /menz ree euh/, Law. a criminal intent. [1860 65; < NL mens rea] * * * ▪ law       in Anglo American law, criminal intent or evil mind. In general, the definition of a criminal offense involves not only an act or omission and its consequences but …   Universalium

  • mens rea, general — n. A general intention to commit a crime. The Essential Law Dictionary. Sphinx Publishing, An imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. Amy Hackney Blackwell. 2008 …   Law dictionary

  • mens rea, specific — n. The specific mental state that is necessary to convict someone of particular crimes. The Essential Law Dictionary. Sphinx Publishing, An imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. Amy Hackney Blackwell. 2008 …   Law dictionary

  • mens rea — noun Etymology: New Latin, literally, guilty mind Date: 1861 criminal intent …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • mens rea — noun a guilty mind, a conscious knowing by the perpetrator that the act s/he committed was illicit …   Wiktionary

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