Because some crimes require that a person both did an act and meant to do that act, phrases like “willfully” and “knowingly” will be used frequently during a criminal court procedure. A “general intent crime” is what this kind of crime is called.

The term “specific intent crimes” refers to a more serious category of crimes when the offender not only planned to commit the crime, but also wanted a certain outcome to take place. We shall examine these words’ differences in more detail today. Call Simmons Wagner, LLP at (949) 439-5857 for a free case review if you have any more inquiries concerning criminal justice-related matters and feel that you require legal representation.

What is a crime with general intent?

The conduct that resulted in the crime was done on purpose in this kind of crime. Among them is the battery. Battery is defined by law as the intentional and unlawful use of force or violence against another person.

Think about an instance where someone punches and strikes someone else. This would qualify as battery under California law since the victim purposefully attacked the aggressor. Keep in mind, nevertheless, that the law does not need that the criminal knowingly meant to harm a specific person. The fact that the individual struck someone with a swing is sufficient. This is a crime with widespread purpose.

What constitutes a crime with specific intent?

The specific intent crime is the second category of criminal intent that we’ll be talking about today. This is a criminal conduct when the offender planned for a certain result to occur. Theft is a typical instance of a specific intent offense.

According to California law, a person must knowingly steal another person’s property in order to temporarily or permanently rob them of it before they may be considered to have committed theft. For instance, if someone takes another person’s neckwear, the prosecution must demonstrate both that the theft occurred and that the victim’s neckwear was meant to be permanently or temporarily taken away.

In other words, they committed a crime with a specific intent, and as a result, they would be charged with a crime with a specific intent.

Does your case change as a result of the differences between the terms?

If you have been accused of a crime in the state of California, you may be asking what difference it would make to your case if the act was committed with general or specific intent. The fact is that everything hinges on the charges brought against you. In rare circumstances, the prosecution may be required to prosecute a lesser felony known as a general intent offense if they are unable to establish specific intent.

Call Simmons Wagner, LLP at (949) 439-5857 right away to schedule a free legal consultation to learn more about how these phrases could relate to your particular criminal case.