Culpability

Abstract:     
In this encyclopedia entry I set forth my analysis of culpability and its place in a justification of criminal punishment. I argue that culpability is the product of the totality of the risks the actor believes he is unleashing through his willed bodily movement (or through his failure to act) and his reasons for so acting (or omitting). Culpability is also affected by the quality of the actor's deliberation. This risks/reasons analysis of culpability eliminates the separate roles of purpose, knowledge, and recklessness in traditional mens rea analysis and rejects the notion that negligence is culpable. It also casts doubt on traditional inchoate crimes such as the "substantial step" attempt, conspiracy, and solicitation as well as on the traditional requirements of complicity and instead asks only whether the actor believes he has unleashed risks of harm or only intends to unleash risks at some future time.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 35

Keywords: culpability, retributivism, desert, recklesness, omissions, purpose, knowledge, negligence, intention

JEL Classification: K00, K10

Accepted Paper Series