Criminal negligence acts as a substitute for intent. To be guilty of most crimes, a defendant must act with a “mens rea” or “criminal intent.” Normally, this means a prosecutor has to prove that a defendant acted: intentionally, deliberately, or with some other state of mind. Criminal negligence acts as a substitute for intent under certain circumstances. It acts as a substitute because it: imposes guilt on a person, and does so when he/she commits an act with a strong risk of committing an injury.