Scienter
Intent or knowledge of wrongdoing. When a person has knowledge of the wrongness of an act or event prior to committing it.
Definition from Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary
(si-en-ter) Latin for "knowingly." In criminal law, it refers to the knowledge by a defendant that makes him or her responsible for the crime. In some, but not all crimes, scienter is a requirement -- that is, the crime must be done knowingly.
Definition provided by Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary.
August 19, 2010, 5:24 pm
