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Kansas Statutes Annotated

K.S.A. § 21-5202 (2026)

Culpable mental state; definition of intentionally, knowingly, recklessly

✓ current as of May 2026
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21-5202. Culpable mental state; definition of intentionally, knowingly, recklessly. (a) Except as otherwise provided, a culpable mental state is an essential element of every crime defined by this code. A culpable mental state may be established by proof that the conduct of the accused person was committed "intentionally," "knowingly" or "recklessly."

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

(1) Intentionally;

(2) knowingly;

(3) recklessly.

(c) Proof of a higher degree of culpability than that charged constitutes proof of the culpability charged. If recklessness suffices to establish an element, that element also is established if a person acts knowingly or intentionally. If acting knowingly suffices to establish an element, that element also is established if a person acts intentionally.

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

(e) If the definition of a crime does not prescribe a culpable mental state, but one is nevertheless required under subsection (d), "intent," "knowledge" or "recklessness" suffices to establish criminal responsibility.

(f) If the definition of a crime prescribes a culpable mental state that is sufficient for the commission of a crime, without distinguishing among the material elements thereof, such provision shall apply to all the material elements of the crime, unless a contrary purpose plainly appears.

(g) If the definition of a crime prescribes a culpable mental state with regard to a particular element or elements of that crime, the prescribed culpable mental state shall be required only as to specified element or elements, and a culpable mental state shall not be required as to any other element of the crime unless otherwise provided.

(h) A person acts "intentionally," or "with intent," with respect to the nature of such person's conduct or to a result of such person's conduct when it is such person's conscious objective or desire to engage in the conduct or cause the result. All crimes defined in this code in which the mental culpability requirement is expressed as "intentionally" or "with intent" are specific intent crimes. A crime may provide that any other culpability requirement is a specific intent.

(i) A person acts "knowingly," or "with knowledge," with respect to the nature of such person's conduct or to circumstances surrounding such person's conduct when such person is aware of the nature of such person's conduct or that the circumstances exist. A person acts "knowingly," or "with knowledge," with respect to a result of such person's conduct when such person is aware that such person's conduct is reasonably certain to cause the result. All crimes defined in this code in which the mental culpability requirement is expressed as "knowingly," "known," or "with knowledge" are general intent crimes.

(j) A person acts "recklessly" or is "reckless," when such person consciously disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk that circumstances exist or that a result will follow, and such disregard constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of care which a reasonable person would exercise in the situation.

History: L. 2010, ch. 136, § 13; July 1, 2011.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 192 cases (101 in the last 5 years), 2012–2026 · leading case: State v. Pulliam, 430 P.3d 39 (Kan. 2018).
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State v. Pulliam, 430 P.3d 39 (Kan. 2018). · cites it 17× “The amended involuntary manslaughter statute and a new culpable mental states statute, K.S.A. 2017 Supp. 21-5202, govern this case.”
State v. Butler, 416 P.3d 116 (Kan. 2018). · cites it 6× “A person acts 'knowingly,' or 'with knowledge,' with respect to a result of such person's conduct when such person is aware that such person's conduct is reasonably certain to cause the result.”
State v. Murrin, 435 P.3d 1126 (Kan. 2019). · cites it 11× “The State counters with a slippery slope argument: if Murrin's interpretation is adopted, "then the voluntary intoxication instruction would be available for any crime except for strict liability offenses" because K.S.A. 2018 Supp. 21-5202 states "that a culpable mental state is…”
State v. Dinkel, 495 P.3d 402 (Kan. 2021). · cites it 13× “This court published the decision before the Legislature enacted K.S.A. 21-5202. Prior to that enactment, K.”
State v. Green, 419 P.3d 83 (Kan. Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 13× “) But when viewing K.S.A. 2017 Supp. 21-5202 as a whole, subsection (a) states: "[A] culpable mental state is an essential element of every crime defined by this code.”
State v. Perez-Medina, 448 P.3d 446 (Kan. 2019). · cites it 10× “Based on the definitions set out under K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-5202, this was not a gross deviation from the standard of care, but a knowing action taken by Perez- Medina to cause the result of cutting Valcarcel[-Arias'] face.”
State v. Gentry, 449 P.3d 429 (Kan. 2019). · cites it 4× “Under K.S.A. 2018 Supp. 21-5202(c), the State can establish that a defendant acted recklessly if it proves that the defendant acted knowingly or intentionally.”
State v. Chavez, 447 P.3d 364 (Kan. 2019). · cites it 8× “K.S.A. 2018 Supp. 21-5202(b) delineates the "[c]ulpable mental states .”
State v. Gonzalez, 412 P.3d 968 (Kan. 2018). · cites it 3× “Second, he asserts amendments to the definition of " 'recklessly' " in K.S.A. 2016 Supp. 21-5202(j), made unintentional second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter the same crime.”
Lee Carrell v. United States (Revised Version), 165 A.3d 314 (D.C. 2017). · cites it 4× “§ 35-41-2-2 (West 2016); Kan. Stat. Ann. § 21-5202 (West 2017) (codifying purpose, knowledge, and recklessness, but not negligence); Me.”
State v. Hobbs, 340 P.3d 1179 (Kan. 2015). · cites it 8× “2d 689 (1998) (general intent crime requires only that the underlying act be intentional rather than accidental); see also K.S.A. 2011 Supp. 21-5202) (culpable mental state may be established by proof of intentional, knowing, reckless conduct); State v.”
State v. Blansett, 435 P.3d 1136 (Kan. 2019). · cites it 4× “K.S.A. 2014 Supp. 21-5202(a) ("Except as otherwise provided, a culpable mental state is an essential element of every crime defined by this code.”
Show all 192 citing cases →
— K.S.A. § 21-5202(a) — 33 cases
State v. Blansett, 435 P.3d 1136 (Kan. 2019). “K.S.A. 2014 Supp. 21-5202(a) ("Except as otherwise provided, a culpable mental state is an essential element of every crime defined by this code.”
State v. Butler, 416 P.3d 116 (Kan. 2018). “A person acts 'knowingly,' or 'with knowledge,' with respect to a result of such person's conduct when such person is aware that such person's conduct is reasonably certain to cause the result.”
State v. Murrin, 435 P.3d 1126 (Kan. 2019). “The State counters with a slippery slope argument: if Murrin's interpretation is adopted, "then the voluntary intoxication instruction would be available for any crime except for strict liability offenses" because K.S.A. 2018 Supp. 21-5202 states "that a culpable mental state is…”
State v. Dinkel, 495 P.3d 402 (Kan. 2021). “This court published the decision before the Legislature enacted K.S.A. 21-5202. Prior to that enactment, K.”
State v. Brown, 284 P.3d 977 (Kan. 2012).
— K.S.A. § 21-5202(b) — 19 cases
State v. Pulliam, 430 P.3d 39 (Kan. 2018). “The amended involuntary manslaughter statute and a new culpable mental states statute, K.S.A. 2017 Supp. 21-5202, govern this case.”
State v. Murrin, 435 P.3d 1126 (Kan. 2019). “The State counters with a slippery slope argument: if Murrin's interpretation is adopted, "then the voluntary intoxication instruction would be available for any crime except for strict liability offenses" because K.S.A. 2018 Supp. 21-5202 states "that a culpable mental state is…”
State v. Perez-Medina, 448 P.3d 446 (Kan. 2019). “Based on the definitions set out under K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-5202, this was not a gross deviation from the standard of care, but a knowing action taken by Perez- Medina to cause the result of cutting Valcarcel[-Arias'] face.”
State v. Chavez, 447 P.3d 364 (Kan. 2019). “K.S.A. 2018 Supp. 21-5202(b) delineates the "[c]ulpable mental states .”
State v. Green, 419 P.3d 83 (Kan. Ct. App. 2018). “) But when viewing K.S.A. 2017 Supp. 21-5202 as a whole, subsection (a) states: "[A] culpable mental state is an essential element of every crime defined by this code.”
— K.S.A. § 21-5202(b)(1) — 4 cases
State v. Gooding, 335 P.3d 698 (Kan. Ct. App. 2014).
State v. Zapata-Grimaldo, 430 P.3d 491 (Kan. Ct. App. 2018).
State v. Taylor (Kan. Ct. App. 2017).
State v. Curry (Kan. Ct. App. 2020).
— K.S.A. § 21-5202(b)(2) — 1 case
State v. Couch (Kan. Ct. App. 2022).
— K.S.A. § 21-5202(b)(3) — 1 case
State v. Couch (Kan. Ct. App. 2022).
— K.S.A. § 21-5202(c) — 30 cases
State v. Gentry, 449 P.3d 429 (Kan. 2019). “Under K.S.A. 2018 Supp. 21-5202(c), the State can establish that a defendant acted recklessly if it proves that the defendant acted knowingly or intentionally.”
State v. Green, 419 P.3d 83 (Kan. Ct. App. 2018). “) But when viewing K.S.A. 2017 Supp. 21-5202 as a whole, subsection (a) states: "[A] culpable mental state is an essential element of every crime defined by this code.”
State v. Perez-Medina, 448 P.3d 446 (Kan. 2019). “Based on the definitions set out under K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-5202, this was not a gross deviation from the standard of care, but a knowing action taken by Perez- Medina to cause the result of cutting Valcarcel[-Arias'] face.”
State v. Chavez, 447 P.3d 364 (Kan. 2019). “K.S.A. 2018 Supp. 21-5202(b) delineates the "[c]ulpable mental states .”
State v. Johnson, 376 P.3d 70 (Kan. 2016).
— K.S.A. § 21-5202(d) — 18 cases
State v. Dinkel, 495 P.3d 402 (Kan. 2021). “This court published the decision before the Legislature enacted K.S.A. 21-5202. Prior to that enactment, K.”
State v. Pulliam, 430 P.3d 39 (Kan. 2018). “The amended involuntary manslaughter statute and a new culpable mental states statute, K.S.A. 2017 Supp. 21-5202, govern this case.”
State v. Butler, 416 P.3d 116 (Kan. 2018). “A person acts 'knowingly,' or 'with knowledge,' with respect to a result of such person's conduct when such person is aware that such person's conduct is reasonably certain to cause the result.”
State v. Dinkel, 465 P.3d 166 (Kan. 2020).
– State v. Patterson –, 455 P.3d 792 (Kan. 2020).
— K.S.A. § 21-5202(e) — 7 cases
State v. Heironimus, 356 P.3d 427 (Kan. Ct. App. 2015).
State v. Bird, 482 P.3d 1157 (Kan. Ct. App. 2021).
State v. Ballantyne, 543 P.3d 1152 (Kan. Ct. App. 2024).
State v. Harris (Kan. Ct. App. 2026).
State v. Killingsworth (Kan. Ct. App. 2021).
— K.S.A. § 21-5202(f) — 9 cases
State v. Pulliam, 430 P.3d 39 (Kan. 2018). “The amended involuntary manslaughter statute and a new culpable mental states statute, K.S.A. 2017 Supp. 21-5202, govern this case.”
State v. Hobbs, 340 P.3d 1179 (Kan. 2015). “2d 689 (1998) (general intent crime requires only that the underlying act be intentional rather than accidental); see also K.S.A. 2011 Supp. 21-5202) (culpable mental state may be established by proof of intentional, knowing, reckless conduct); State v.”
State v. Howard, 339 P.3d 809 (Kan. Ct. App. 2014).
State v. Sinnard, 543 P.3d 525 (Kan. 2024).
State v. Slaughter (Kan. Ct. App. 2024).
— K.S.A. § 21-5202(g) — 12 cases
State v. Dinkel, 495 P.3d 402 (Kan. 2021). “This court published the decision before the Legislature enacted K.S.A. 21-5202. Prior to that enactment, K.”
State v. Pulliam, 430 P.3d 39 (Kan. 2018). “The amended involuntary manslaughter statute and a new culpable mental states statute, K.S.A. 2017 Supp. 21-5202, govern this case.”
State v. Hobbs, 340 P.3d 1179 (Kan. 2015). “2d 689 (1998) (general intent crime requires only that the underlying act be intentional rather than accidental); see also K.S.A. 2011 Supp. 21-5202) (culpable mental state may be established by proof of intentional, knowing, reckless conduct); State v.”
State v. Kershaw, 359 P.3d 52 (Kan. 2015).
State v. Beasley, 547 P.3d 617 (Kan. Ct. App. 2024).
— K.S.A. § 21-5202(h) — 53 cases
State v. Murrin, 435 P.3d 1126 (Kan. 2019). “The State counters with a slippery slope argument: if Murrin's interpretation is adopted, "then the voluntary intoxication instruction would be available for any crime except for strict liability offenses" because K.S.A. 2018 Supp. 21-5202 states "that a culpable mental state is…”
State v. Wright, 410 P.3d 893 (Kan. 2018).
State v. Boettger, 450 P.3d 805 (Kan. 2019).
State v. Potts, 374 P.3d 639 (Kan. 2016).
State v. James, 443 P.3d 1063 (Kan. 2019).
— K.S.A. § 21-5202(i) — 55 cases
State v. Murrin, 435 P.3d 1126 (Kan. 2019). “The State counters with a slippery slope argument: if Murrin's interpretation is adopted, "then the voluntary intoxication instruction would be available for any crime except for strict liability offenses" because K.S.A. 2018 Supp. 21-5202 states "that a culpable mental state is…”
State v. Rizal, 445 P.3d 734 (Kan. 2019).
State v. Holley, 485 P.3d 614 (Kan. 2021).
State v. Green, 419 P.3d 83 (Kan. Ct. App. 2018). “) But when viewing K.S.A. 2017 Supp. 21-5202 as a whole, subsection (a) states: "[A] culpable mental state is an essential element of every crime defined by this code.”
State v. Hobbs, 340 P.3d 1179 (Kan. 2015). “2d 689 (1998) (general intent crime requires only that the underlying act be intentional rather than accidental); see also K.S.A. 2011 Supp. 21-5202) (culpable mental state may be established by proof of intentional, knowing, reckless conduct); State v.”
— K.S.A. § 21-5202(j) — 52 cases
State v. Gonzalez, 412 P.3d 968 (Kan. 2018). “Second, he asserts amendments to the definition of " 'recklessly' " in K.S.A. 2016 Supp. 21-5202(j), made unintentional second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter the same crime.”
State v. Pattillo, 469 P.3d 1250 (Kan. 2020).
State v. James, 443 P.3d 1063 (Kan. 2019).
State v. Boettger, 450 P.3d 805 (Kan. 2019).
State v. Bodine, 486 P.3d 551 (Kan. 2021).
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