Legal Definitions - general-intent crime

A general-intent crime is a type of criminal offense where the prosecution must prove that the defendant intended to perform the physical act that constitutes the crime. It is not necessary to prove that the defendant intended a specific outcome or a particular further consequence beyond the act itself. The focus is on the conscious decision to engage in the prohibited conduct, rather than on a specific ulterior motive or desired result.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Example 1: Battery

  Imagine a situation where two individuals are arguing, and one person, out of frustration, intentionally shoves the other. The person who shoved did not intend for the other person to fall and break their arm, but merely intended to make physical contact in an offensive or harmful way.

  How it illustrates the term: For a charge of battery, the prosecution would need to demonstrate that the defendant *intended to make physical contact* with the other person. They would not need to prove that the defendant specifically intended to cause a broken arm or any particular injury. The intent to perform the act of shoving, which constitutes the harmful or offensive touching, is sufficient to meet the general intent requirement.

• Example 2: Criminal Trespass

  Consider a person walking home who decides to take a shortcut across a private lawn clearly marked with "No Trespassing" signs, simply to save a few minutes. They have no intention of damaging the property, stealing anything, or bothering the homeowners.

  How it illustrates the term: To prove criminal trespass, the prosecution would need to show that the person *intended to enter* the private property without permission. It would not be necessary to prove that they intended to cause damage, commit theft, or achieve any specific harmful outcome beyond the unauthorized entry itself. The conscious decision to perform the act of entering prohibited property fulfills the general intent requirement.

• Example 3: Disorderly Conduct

  A person at a public event becomes intoxicated and starts shouting obscenities loudly, disrupting the peace and quiet of families nearby. They are not trying to target any specific individual or cause specific harm, but are simply engaging in the disruptive behavior.

  How it illustrates the term: For a charge of disorderly conduct in this scenario, the prosecution would need to prove that the person *intended to shout* the obscenities and engage in the disruptive behavior. They would not need to prove that the person intended to cause specific emotional distress to a particular family or intended a specific long-term disruption. The intent to perform the disruptive act itself is what matters for a general-intent crime.