Specific Intent Crimes require that the defendant have a specific intent to achieve a particular result.

Specific Intent Crimes require that the defendant have a specific intent to achieve a particular result.

• A. Only if the result is accidental
• B. True
• C. False
• D. Only for felonies

Answer: (B)

Specific intent crimes hinge on the defendant’s state of mind: you must intend to bring about a particular result, not just perform the act. If the resulting outcome happens by accident or without that specific purpose, the specific intent element isn’t met, so you wouldn’t convict for that specific-intent offense. That’s why the statement is true—the crime requires a particular intent to achieve a designated result. For example, burglary involves entering with the specific intent to commit a felony inside. Merely entering or causing a similar outcome by accident wouldn’t satisfy the required intent, even though other charges could apply. The other options don’t fit because the requirement isn’t conditioned on the result being accidental, it isn’t limited to felonies, and the claim isn’t false.

Specific intent crimes hinge on the defendant’s state of mind: you must intend to bring about a particular result, not just perform the act. If the resulting outcome happens by accident or without that specific purpose, the specific intent element isn’t met, so you wouldn’t convict for that specific-intent offense. That’s why the statement is true—the crime requires a particular intent to achieve a designated result.

For example, burglary involves entering with the specific intent to commit a felony inside. Merely entering or causing a similar outcome by accident wouldn’t satisfy the required intent, even though other charges could apply. The other options don’t fit because the requirement isn’t conditioned on the result being accidental, it isn’t limited to felonies, and the claim isn’t false.