Mental states that determine the degree of guilt or culpability in criminal law are generally classified from highest (most worthy of blame or punishment) to lowest as: (1) intentional; (2) knowing; (3) reckless; and (4) criminal negligence.

A person acts with criminal negligence, or is criminally negligent, with respect to circumstances surrounding his conduct or the result of his conduct when he ought to be aware of a substantial and unjustifiable risk that the circumstances exist or the result will occur. The risk must be of such a nature and degree that the failure to perceive it constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of care that an ordinary person would exercise under all of the circumstances, as viewed from the accused person’s standpoint at the time of the alleged criminal negligence.

Criminal offenses or crimes often specify the culpable mental state the prosecution is required to prove to convict a defendant of the offense. These culpable mental states are generally defined in the relevant state or federal statutes—usually in the penal or criminal code.

In Washington State, as in many jurisdictions, the mental state of an individual at the time of committing a crime is a critical factor in determining their degree of guilt or culpability. The mental states are ranked from most to least blameworthy as follows: (1) intentional, (2) knowing, (3) reckless, and (4) criminal negligence. Criminal negligence in Washington is defined as failing to be aware of a substantial and unjustifiable risk that a reasonable person would have recognized, and this failure represents a significant departure from the conduct expected of an ordinary person in the same situation. Washington's criminal statutes, which can be found in the Revised Code of Washington (RCW), particularly in the sections dealing with criminal law, outline the necessary mental states required for various offenses. An attorney representing a client in Washington would need to carefully consider these mental state requirements when preparing a defense or when the prosecution is attempting to prove guilt.