Del. C. » Title 11 — Delaware Criminal Code · CHAPTER 2. General Provisions Concerning Offenses · Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Delaware Code

11 Del. C. § 252 (2026)

Prescribed state-of-mind requirement applies to all material elements

✓ current as of May 2026
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When a statute defining an offense prescribes the state of mind that is sufficient for the commission of the offense, without distinguishing among the elements thereof, the provision shall apply to all the elements of the offense, unless a contrary legislative purpose plainly appears.

11 Del. C. 1953, §  252;  58 Del. Laws, c. 497, §  1; 
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 6 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 2015–2025 · leading case: State v. Reeves (Del. Super. Ct. 2024).
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State v. Reeves (Del. Super. Ct. 2024). · cites it 3× “Reeves’ contention regarding Counterman’s impact on Section 1312, the State relies on 11 Del. C. § 252 (“Section 252”). Section 252 provides: [w]hen a statute defining an offense prescribes the state of mind that is sufficient for the commission of the offense, without…”
State v. Reeves (Del. Super. Ct. 2024). · cites it 3× “Reeves’ contention regarding Counterman’s impact on Section 1312, the State relies on 11 Del. C. § 252 (“Section 252”). Section 252 provides: [w]hen a statute defining an offense prescribes the state of mind that is sufficient for the commission of the offense, without…”
Jewell v. State (Del. 2025). · cites it 2× “§ 251(b) because the statute provides no mens rea, here we turn to 11 Del. C. § 252. Section 252 provides that “[w]hen a statute defining an offense prescribes the state of mind that is sufficient for the commission of the offense, without distinguishing among the elements…”
Cauffman v. State (Del. 2015). · cites it 2× “More specifically, Cauffman argues that 11 Del. C. § 252 provides that when a statute sets forth a state of mind required for the commission of an offense, without distinguishing between the different elements of the offense, the required state of mind applies to all elements 9…”
In Re Joseph A. Hurley (Del. 2020). “”); 11 Del. C. § 252 (“[T]he state of mind . .”
State v. Herbert (Del. Super. Ct. 2022). “§ 301(a)–(b) (codifying burden); 11 Del. C. § 252 (codifying material element requirement); cf.”
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