Which type of criminal intent is defined as intending to perform the act but having no further purpose or knowledge beyond the action?

• A. Specific Intent
• B. Transferred Intent
• C. General Intent
• D. Civil Negligence

Answer: (C)

General intent is the mental state where the actor intends to perform the prohibited act itself and does not have a further objective or knowledge about a specific result beyond carrying out that act. In this scenario, the person consciously plans to do the act and is aware it could cause harm, but there isn’t an additional purpose to achieve a particular outcome.

Specific intent requires a deliberate objective beyond the act itself, such as intending to steal or to cause a particular result. Transferred intent deals with harming one person but unintentionally harming another, focusing on the target rather than the depth of the actor’s purpose. Civil negligence isn’t a criminal mindset at all; it lacks criminal intent and arises in civil (not criminal) liability.