What mental state is required to intentionally cause bodily injury?

Prepare for the HCSO Basic Peace Officer Course (BPOC) Test. Study with comprehensive flashcards and multiple choice questions. Each question comes with hints and explanations. Ace your exam with confidence!

To intentionally cause bodily injury, the mental state required is one of intention. This means that the person must act with the purpose of causing injury or harm to another individual. In legal terms, this state of mind is often referred to as "specific intent," where the individual's actions are deliberate and focused on achieving that outcome.

The other options depict different mental states that do not align with the requirement for intentional harm. Accidental refers to actions taken without any intention to cause harm. Negligent indicates a failure to exercise reasonable care, resulting in unintended injury, without the deliberate aim to harm. Reckless involves a disregard for a substantial risk of harm, but it does not involve the specific intent to cause injury. Thus, when considering the intention behind actions that lead to bodily harm, the key requirement is having the intent to cause that injury, which is aptly captured by the term 'intended.'

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