K.S.A. » Chapter 21
Kansas Statutes Annotated

K.S.A. § 21-5203 (2026)

Guilt without culpable mental state, when

✓ current as of May 2026
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21-5203. Guilt without culpable mental state, when. A person may be guilty of a crime without having a culpable mental state if the crime is:

(a) A misdemeanor, cigarette or tobacco infraction or traffic infraction and the statute defining the crime clearly indicates a legislative purpose to impose absolute liability for the conduct described;

(b) a felony and the statute defining the crime clearly indicates a legislative purpose to impose absolute liability for the conduct described;

(c) a violation of K.S.A. 8-1567 or 8-1567a, and amendments thereto;

(d) a violation of K.S.A. 8-2,144, and amendments thereto; or

(e) a violation of K.S.A. 22-4901 et seq., and amendments thereto.

History: L. 2010, ch 136, § 14; L. 2011, ch. 105, § 34; L. 2012, ch. 172, § 27; L. 2018, ch. 106, § 22; July 1.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 22 cases (11 in the last 5 years), 2014–2026 · leading case: State v. Genson, 513 P.3d 1192 (Kan. 2022).
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State v. Genson, 513 P.3d 1192 (Kan. 2022). · cites it 22× “10 Discussion Genson argues K.S.A. 2020 Supp. 21-5203 violates substantive due process because it impairs his liberty without proof of a culpable mental state (scienter) and because this crime is a felony that carries a serious potential sentence.”
State v. Stoll, 480 P.3d 158 (Kan. 2021). · cites it 3× “Before the district court, she argued K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-5203(f), which makes failure to register a strict liability crime, violated her due process rights.”
State v. Dinkel, 495 P.3d 402 (Kan. 2021). · cites it 3× “21-5202 and K.S.A. 21-5203. The substance of these mental culpability statutes changed with the recodification.”
State v. Dinkel, 465 P.3d 166 (Kan. 2020). · cites it 2× “" K.S.A. 2012 Supp. 21-5202(d). Another statute, K.”
State v. Pulliam, 430 P.3d 39 (Kan. 2018). “K.S.A. 2017 Supp. 21-5203(b). Whether a culpable mental state applies to each element of a crime or only to a specific element is governed by K.”
State v. Genson, 481 P.3d 137 (Kan. Ct. App. 2020). · cites it 16× “" But our Legislature fulfilled the exception clause of K.S.A. 2019 Supp. 21-5202(a) by listing strict liability crimes in K.”
State v. Heironimus, 356 P.3d 427 (Kan. Ct. App. 2015). · cites it 5× “” K.S.A. 2011 Supp. 21-5202(d). Additionally, the legislature is now free to define felony crimes as absolute liability offenses.”
State v. Howard, 339 P.3d 809 (Kan. Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 2× “) K.S.A. 2013 Supp. 21-5203(b) provides that “[a] person may be guilty of a crime without having a culpable mental state if the crime is .”
State v. Thomas, 488 P.3d 517 (Kan. 2021). “2d 339 (2000); see K.S.A. 2020 Supp. 21-5203 (defining strict liability offenses as those "without having a culpable mental state").”
State v. Owens, 411 P.3d 1247 (Kan. Ct. App. 2018). “See K.S.A. 2014 Supp. 21-5203(f) ; K.S.A. 2014 Supp.”
State v. Bird, 482 P.3d 1157 (Kan. Ct. App. 2021). “See K.S.A. 2019 Supp. 21-5203. The indictment charged Bird with aggravated indecent liberties with a child under the age of 14 under K.”
Johnson v. Bass Pro Outdoor World, 567 P.3d 810 (Kan. 2025). · cites it 2× “See K.S.A. 21-5203. Congress' use of the different terms ("unlawful misuse" and "criminal offense") simply reflects its intent to give gun manufacturers and sellers immunity in most civil actions where injuries resulted from the gun's criminal or unlawful misuse.”
Show all 22 citing cases →
— K.S.A. § 21-5203(3) — 1 case
State v. Vessar (Kan. Ct. App. 2021).
— K.S.A. § 21-5203(b) — 6 cases
State v. Dinkel, 495 P.3d 402 (Kan. 2021). “21-5202 and K.S.A. 21-5203. The substance of these mental culpability statutes changed with the recodification.”
State v. Dinkel, 465 P.3d 166 (Kan. 2020). “" K.S.A. 2012 Supp. 21-5202(d). Another statute, K.”
State v. Pulliam, 430 P.3d 39 (Kan. 2018). “K.S.A. 2017 Supp. 21-5203(b). Whether a culpable mental state applies to each element of a crime or only to a specific element is governed by K.”
State v. Howard, 339 P.3d 809 (Kan. Ct. App. 2014). “) K.S.A. 2013 Supp. 21-5203(b) provides that “[a] person may be guilty of a crime without having a culpable mental state if the crime is .”
State v. Heironimus, 356 P.3d 427 (Kan. Ct. App. 2015). “” K.S.A. 2011 Supp. 21-5202(d). Additionally, the legislature is now free to define felony crimes as absolute liability offenses.”
— K.S.A. § 21-5203(c) — 1 case
State v. Mulally (Kan. Ct. App. 2020).
— K.S.A. § 21-5203(e) — 4 cases
State v. Genson, 513 P.3d 1192 (Kan. 2022). “10 Discussion Genson argues K.S.A. 2020 Supp. 21-5203 violates substantive due process because it impairs his liberty without proof of a culpable mental state (scienter) and because this crime is a felony that carries a serious potential sentence.”
State v. Genson, 481 P.3d 137 (Kan. Ct. App. 2020). “" But our Legislature fulfilled the exception clause of K.S.A. 2019 Supp. 21-5202(a) by listing strict liability crimes in K.”
State v. Buell (Kan. Ct. App. 2026).
State v. Vessar (Kan. Ct. App. 2021).
— K.S.A. § 21-5203(f) — 4 cases
State v. Stoll, 480 P.3d 158 (Kan. 2021). “Before the district court, she argued K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-5203(f), which makes failure to register a strict liability crime, violated her due process rights.”
State v. Owens, 411 P.3d 1247 (Kan. Ct. App. 2018). “See K.S.A. 2014 Supp. 21-5203(f) ; K.S.A. 2014 Supp.”
State v. Sims (Supreme Court) (Kan. 2019).
State v. Robinson (Kan. Ct. App. 2022).
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