What defines specific intent crimes?

Specific intent crimes are defined by the requirement that the individual committing the crime must not only intend to engage in the conduct prohibiting it by law but also intend to achieve a particular outcome. This means that the perpetrator must have a specific purpose in mind when committing the offense. For example, in the case of theft, the individual must intend to permanently deprive the owner of their property; it is not sufficient merely to intend to take the property without the requisite purpose of depriving the owner of it.

This distinction is important as it underscores the mental state required for specific intent crimes, which goes beyond merely intending to commit the act itself. While knowledge of the act may be a factor, as in many types of crimes, it is the addition of a specific result that characterizes these crimes uniquely.

Motive, on the other hand, does not factor into the legal definition of specific intent; therefore, the option suggesting that motive is not a factor does not accurately reflect the essence of specific intent. Criminal classifications that involve fixed statutes are not relevant as they focus on the procedural aspects of punishment rather than the underlying mental state required for specific intent.