Legal Definitions - mentes reae

Definition: Mentes reae is the plural form of mens rea. It refers to the mental state or intention of a person while committing a crime.

Example: If someone intentionally kills another person, they have the mens rea or "guilty mind" necessary to be charged with murder.

Explanation: The example illustrates how mens rea is used to determine criminal intent. In this case, the person had the intention to kill, which is a necessary element for the crime of murder. Mentes reae is simply the plural form of this concept, referring to the mental states of multiple individuals involved in a crime.