Define 'Intentionally' in the context of culpable mental states.

Define 'Intentionally' in the context of culpable mental states.

• A. A person acts intentionally when their conduct is accidental.
• B. A person acts intentionally when their conscious objective is to cause a result or engage in conduct described by a statute.
• C. A person acts intentionally when they are aware a result is practically certain to occur.
• D. A person acts intentionally when they purposely avoid the result.

Answer: (B)

Intentionally means acting with a conscious objective to bring about a specific result or to engage in the conduct described by the statute. It requires a purpose or design—not mere awareness that something might happen or that it could happen. This is stronger than knowing that a result is possible or practically certain; it’s about aiming for and intending that result. So when a statute uses “intentionally,” the state must show the person acted with that specific purpose to cause the result or to perform the described conduct. Accidental actions don’t meet this standard. Being aware a result is practically certain aligns with the mental state of knowingly, not intentionally. Purposely avoiding a result reflects a different stance entirely and isn’t the defined meaning of intentionally.

Intentionally means acting with a conscious objective to bring about a specific result or to engage in the conduct described by the statute. It requires a purpose or design—not mere awareness that something might happen or that it could happen. This is stronger than knowing that a result is possible or practically certain; it’s about aiming for and intending that result.

So when a statute uses “intentionally,” the state must show the person acted with that specific purpose to cause the result or to perform the described conduct. Accidental actions don’t meet this standard. Being aware a result is practically certain aligns with the mental state of knowingly, not intentionally. Purposely avoiding a result reflects a different stance entirely and isn’t the defined meaning of intentionally.