Texas Penal Code

§ 6.02 — REQUIREMENT OF CULPABILITY

PE § 6.02Title 2. GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY · Ch. 6. CULPABILITY GENERALLY

Statute text

(a)Except as provided in Subsection (b), a person does not commit an offense unless he intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence engages in conduct as the definition of the offense requires.

(b)If the definition of an offense does not prescribe a culpable mental state, a culpable mental state is nevertheless required unless the definition plainly dispenses with any mental element.

(c)If the definition of an offense does not prescribe a culpable mental state, but one is nevertheless required under Subsection (b), intent, knowledge, or recklessness suffices to establish criminal responsibility.

(d)Culpable mental states are classified according to relative degrees, from highest to lowest, as follows:

(1)intentional;

(2)knowing;

…

Legislative history

Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1219 (H.B. 970), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005.