Main Content

Criminal Law

State v. Shedrick

In Shedrick, the court concludes that the legislature did in fact impose some mens rea for the element of the amount stolen, even if it did not do so expressly. As you read the opinion, answer this question not entirely answered by the court. Why did the legislature impose some mens rea on the theft element (as opposed to merely did it), and why might legislatures want to do so generally?