define general intent
All crimes have two key parts, the criminal act done by the perpetrator (actus reus) and the perpetrator's state of mind when the crime is committed (mens rea). General intent refers to the perpetrator's state of mind at the time the crime was committed. A general intent crime requires only an intent by the perpetrator to do an act that the law declares to be a crime even though the perpetrator may not know the act is unlawful.