INTENT
A determination to perform a particular act or to
act in a particular manner for a specific reason; an
aim or design; a resolution to use a certain means
to reach an end.
Intent is a mental attitude with which an
individual acts, and therefore it cannot ordinar-
ily be directly proved but must be inferred from
surrounding facts and circumstances. Intent
refers only to the state of mind with which the
act is done or omitted. It differs from motive,
which is what prompts a person to act or to fail
to act. For example, suppose Billy calls Amy
names and Amy throws a snowball at him.
Amy’s intent is to hit Billy with a snowball. Her
motive may be to stop Billy’s taunts.
The legal importance of what an individual
