{"data":{"id":"us-al/ala.-code-13a-2-2","jurisdiction":"us-al","citation":"Ala. Code § 13A-2-2","heading":"Definitions - Definitions of Culpable Mental State.","body":"The following definitions apply to this Criminal Code:\n(1) INTENTIONALLY. A person acts intentionally with respect to a result or to conduct described by a statute defining an offense, when his purpose is to cause that result or to engage in that conduct.\n(2) KNOWINGLY. A person acts knowingly with respect to conduct or to a circumstance described by a statute defining an offense when he is aware that his conduct is of that nature or that the circumstance exists.\n(3) RECKLESSLY. A person acts recklessly with respect to a result or to a circumstance described by a statute defining an offense when he is aware of and consciously disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk that the result will occur or that the circumstance exists. The risk must be of such nature and degree that disregard thereof constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of conduct that a reasonable person would observe in the situation. A person who creates a risk but is unaware thereof solely by reason of voluntary intoxication, as defined in subdivision (e)(2) of Section 13A-3-2, acts recklessly with respect thereto.\n(4) CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE. A person acts with criminal negligence with respect to a result or to a circumstance which is defined by statute as an offense when he fails to perceive a substantial and unjustifiable risk that the result will occur or that the circumstance exists. The risk must be of such nature and degree that the failure to perceive it constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of care that a reasonable person would observe in the situation. A court or jury may consider statutes or ordinances regulating the defendant’s conduct as bearing upon the question of criminal negligence.","path":["Title 13A Criminal Code.","Chapter 2 Principles of Criminal Liability.","Article 1 Culpability."],"source_url":"https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabama?section=13A-2-2","current_through":"Act 2026-611","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-03T14:01:52Z","sha256":"453814d4cf9f9c3b03b8c02ba9d04ec7d246ded1815c1320ec6e9842aac694bd","source_id":"us-al","stale":false,"prev":"us-al/ala.-code-13a-2-1","next":"us-al/ala.-code-13a-2-3"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}