Basic Intent, Specific Intent, and 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 is 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.