In this Lessonette® exercise, students examine the mens rea of purpose as set forth in the Model Penal Code. The lesson contains some material that allow students to see purpose in relation to other levels of culpability, and to recognize and understand purpose as the highest and most subjective level of culpability. The lesson explores the Code term "conscious object," and also presents opportunities to consider the theoretical significance of requiring purpose as a condition of imposing criminal punishment, in terms of both retribution and negligence. Finally, the lesson examines certain rules permitting presumptions and inferences that ease the difficulty of proving purpose to a factfinder.
