{"data":{"id":"us-pa/18-pa.c.s.-304","jurisdiction":"us-pa","citation":"18 Pa.C.S. § 304","heading":"Ignorance or mistake.","body":"Ignorance or mistake as to a matter of fact, for which there is reasonable explanation or excuse, is a defense if:\n(1) the ignorance or mistake negatives the intent, knowledge, belief, recklessness, or negligence required to establish a material element of the offense; or\n(2) the law provides that the state of mind established by such ignorance or mistake constitutes a defense.","path":["Title 18 - CRIMES AND OFFENSES","PART I PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS","CHAPTER 3 CULPABILITY"],"source_url":"https://www.palegis.us/statutes/consolidated/view-statute?txtType=HTM\u0026ttl=18\u0026div=0\u0026chpt=3\u0026sctn=4\u0026subsctn=0","current_through":"2026-08-31 (Statute Update stamp, 18 Pa.C.S.)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-02T16:31:28Z","sha256":"04b8eda967150fe88ddffa2b969542ed8d679652de91202056f5843c65f5227c","source_id":"us-pa","stale":false,"prev":"us-pa/18-pa.c.s.-303","next":"us-pa/18-pa.c.s.-305"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}