Your Cart
Basic Intent vs Specific Intent vs Ulterior Intent

Basic Intent vs Specific Intent vs Ulterior Intent

In criminal law, basic intent, specific intent, and ulterior intent are often used to describe different levels of mental state required to prove certain crimes. Here's a breakdown of what each term means:


Basic intent refers to the general intention, recklessness or negligence to commit a criminal act, without the specific intention to achieve a particular purpose. This level of intent is often required to prove crimes such as assault, battery, or manslaughter, where the act itself is enough to establish guilt.


Specific intent refers to the intention to achieve a specific outcome of the criminal act. This level of intent is often required to prove more serious crimes, such as murder or theft, where the prosecution must prove that the defendant had a specific intent to achieve a specific outcome.


Ulterior intent refers to a hidden or secondary intention to bring about a consequence beyond the criminal act. This level of intent is often required to prove certain crimes, such as aggravated criminal damage, where the defendant intentionally causes damage to property belonging to another with the intent to endanger life. The first intent is his intention to cause damage to property. The ulterior intent is his intention to endanger life. If the ulterior intent cannot be proved by the prosecution, the defendant cannot be charged with aggravated criminal damage but simple criminal damage which only requires the proof of actual damage and his intention to cause damage without the need to prove the intention to endanger life.


You can find out more about these topics and relevant case law with our Criminal Law notes.

Trusted by thousands of law students worldwide

Where are our students from?

Yale University

Council of Europe

Baker Mckenzie 

University of Chicago

Columbia University

New York University

University of Michigan 

INSEAD

University College London (UCL)

London School of Economics (LSE)

King’s College London (KCL)

University of London

University of Manchester

University of Zurich

University of York

Brandeis University

University of Exeter

University of Sheffield

Boston University

University of Washington

University of Leeds

University of Law

Royal Holloway, University of London 

Birkbeck, University of London

SOAS, University of London

University of Kent

University of Hull

Queen’s University Belfast

Toronto Metropolitan University

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Your perfect companion for open-book and closed-book exams

Diagrams and Charts

Our carefully designed diagrams and charts will guide you through complex legal issues.

Clear and Succinct Definitions

Key concepts are concisely defined to help you understand legal topics quickly.

Statutory Provisions

Statutory provisions are provided side by side with legal concepts to help you swiftly locate the relevant legislation.

Case Summaries

We have summarised important cases for you so that you don't need to read long and boring cases.

Rules and Exceptions

Rules and exceptions are clearly listed so that you know when a rule applies and when it doesn't.

Terminology

Legal terms and key concepts are explained at the beginning of each chapter to help you learn efficiently.

Case Law

Case law is provided side by side with legal concepts so that you know how legal principles and precedents were established.

Law Essay Guide

You will learn essential law exam skills and essay writing techniques that are not taught in class.

Problem Question Guide

We will show you how to answer problem questions step by step to achieve first-class results.

Structured Explanations

Complex legal concepts are broken down into concise and digestible bullet point explanations.

Legal Research

You will learn legal research techniques with our study guide and become a proficient legal researcher.

Exam-focused

All essential concepts, principles, and case law are included so that you can answer exam questions quickly.