Which statement best describes 'Intentional'?

• A. Offenses described as accidental
• B. Offenses that require neglect
• C. Offenses not "accidental," such as assault, robbery, forgery, theft, murder; most difficult to prove
• D. Offenses that require knowledge of the law

Answer: (C)

Intentional refers to actions taken with a conscious objective to cause a particular result or with knowledge that the result is practically certain to occur. It means the act wasn’t an accident; the person chose to do it knowing what would happen. Crimes described as intentional include assault, robbery, forgery, theft, murder—acts where the defendant intends the harm or the outcome. These are usually more difficult to prove because you must demonstrate the offender's state of mind, which is inferred from evidence like statements, planning, or pattern of behavior. This contrasts with offenses described as accidental or negligent, where the harm results from carelessness or an unplanned act, or with offenses that hinge on knowledge of the law rather than intent. Therefore, the description that best fits intentional offenses is that they are not accidental and involve a purposeful or knowing wrongdoing.