mens rea

noun

ˈmenz-ˈrē-ə 

-ˈrā-ə

: criminal intent

Examples of mens rea in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Imagine applying mens rea to the bloodiest tyrants of modern history. — Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 22 June 2022

Conservative jurisprudence tends to favor mens rea requirements for businesspeople charged with crimes. — Maia Szalavitz, Scientific American, 25 Feb. 2022

Most significantly, the government contends that Lee had the necessary mens rea — the criminal-intent element — to commit the felony retention offense. — Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 17 Jan. 2018

Reimer said when asked about concerns that mens rea reform would help companies evade regulatory charges. — Matt Ford, The Atlantic, 26 Oct. 2017

This time mens rea reform proponents have gone out of their way to enlist the support of left-leaning criminal-defense attorneys. — Ed Kilgore, Daily Intelligencer, 26 Oct. 2017

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, literally, guilty mind

First Known Use

1861, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

mens rea

noun

ˈmenz-ˈrē-ə, -ˈrā- 

plural mentes reae

ˈmen-ˌtēz-ˈrē-ˌē, ˈmen-ˌtās-ˈrā-ˌī

: a culpable mental state

especially : one involving intent or knowledge and forming an element of a criminal offense

murder contains a mens rea element

compare actus reus

Etymology

New Latin, literally, guilty mind