The Motive and the Intention to commit a criminal act

Motive and intention are both aspects in the field of law and justice. They are also associated with a suspect with the particular purposes of proving or disproving a particular case or crime.

“Motive” refers to the reason or the “why” the crime was committed. It is often the background of the suspect in committing the alleged crime. As a background, motive comes before intent. Unlike intent, motive can be determined, but its existence doesn’t exactly prove guilt. It can be refuted by evidence or an alibi on a suspected person’s part (often referred to as “a person of interest” in criminal jargon). A motive is often based on the probability that the person has reason to commit the crime but no supporting evidence that the motive was carried out in the action. Motive is an initial factor but not a conclusive action to link a person to the crime.

Motive is also based in the realm of psychology. Motive, as a psychological term, is also known as the drive and is often classified into two main types – the physiological motives and the psychological or social motives.

Intent

“Intent,” on the other hand, is the supposed action or purpose of the crime. It is the result of the motive and has a higher level of culpability since a harmful action was committed. Intent is characterized as a deliberate action and conscious effort to break the law and commit the offense. Intent resides in the field of law where it is defined as the planning and longing to perform an act. It is present in both criminal law and tort law.

To be specific, a scenario of intent in criminal law often involves the prosecutor in a court of law filing a charge of a crime against a suspect with veritable motive and intent. Since the intent is the final goal of the motive, it needs to be proven in order to prove that the suspect did to commit the crime. Intent has more legal standing and weight compared to motive in a court of law and is a requirement to make a case along with the means and opportunity.

As for criminal intent, there are four levels:

(1) Purposely – At this level, the suspect expresses his purpose to commit a specific crime against a particular person.

(2) Knowingly – The suspect has knowledge and consciousness that his actions will be considered a crime in the eyes of the law. However, the suspect can inflict a crime on a person who is not his intended victim.

(3) Recklessly – The suspect knows the risks involved in his actions and the situation but disregards the risk and continues to perform the crime regardless.

(4) Negligently – The suspect does not take into account various possible scenarios that will happen during the action of the crime which often leads to losing control of the situation and probably causing more casualties.

Summary:

1)    Motive and intent are very closely related to each other. Motive precedes intent in terms of action.

2)    Motive is mainly in the field of psychology whereas intent is nestled in the field of law.

3)    Motive is the reason behind the intent while intent is the background of the committed crime.

4)    Both motive and intent should be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, but intent has a weightier standing and bearing in a court of law compared to motive.

5)    Intent is part of the three aspects to prove the crime (with means and opportunity) while motive can stand for itself.

6)    Motive applies to all persons of interest which can include the suspect. However, intent can be solely focused on the suspect.

7)    Motive is very arbitrary. It cannot prove or justify guilt or the actions pertaining to the crime. A person with a motive can be eliminated or solidified with the help of the evidence or alibi. In the case of intent, the evidence or alibi solidified the case against the suspect.