Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

mens rea

Legal Term

/ˈmɛnz ˈreɪ.ə/

Definition

Mens rea is a legal term that refers to the mental state or intent of a person when committing a crime.

Examples

In criminal law, proving mens rea is crucial for establishing guilt.
For many offenses, the prosecution must show that the defendant had mens rea at the time of the crime.

Meaning

It literally translates to ‘guilty mind’ and implies that a person must have a certain level of intent or knowledge of wrongdoing to be held criminally responsible.