{"data":{"id":"us-ky/krs-501.020","jurisdiction":"us-ky","citation":"KRS 501.020","heading":"Definition of mental states.","body":"The following definitions apply in the Kentucky Penal Code:\n(1) \"Intentionally\" -- A person acts intentionally with respect to a result or to conduct\ndescribed by a statute defining an offense when his conscious objective is to cause\nthat result or to engage in that conduct.\n(2) \"Knowingly\" -- A person acts knowingly with respect to conduct or to a\ncircumstance described by a statute defining an offense when he is aware that his\nconduct is of that nature or that the circumstance exists.\n(3) \"Wantonly\" -- A person acts wantonly with respect to a result or to a circumstance\ndescribed by a statute defining an offense when he is aware of and consciously\ndisregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk that the result will occur or that the\ncircumstance exists.  The risk must be of such nature and degree that disregard\nthereof constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of conduct that a reasonable\nperson would observe in the situation. A person who creates such a risk but is\nunaware thereof solely by reason of voluntary intoxication also acts wantonly with\nrespect thereto.\n(4) \"Recklessly\" -- A person acts recklessly with respect to a result or to a circumstance\ndescribed by a statute defining an offense when he fails to perceive a substantial and\nunjustifiable risk that the result will occur or that the circumstance exists. The risk\nmust be of such nature and degree that failure to perceive it constitutes a gross\ndeviation from the standard of care that a reasonable person would observe in the\nsituation.","path":["KRS Chapter 501"],"source_url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=19651","current_through":"Includes enactments through the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"09/05/2026","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T21:00:00Z","sha256":"f787847919e32013f79c77bd5349693d482b59189e1f4d86b561b2d05aa7fda9","source_id":"us-ky","stale":false,"prev":"us-ky/krs-501.010","next":"us-ky/krs-501.030"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}