Which statement is NOT true regarding criminal activity?

The statement that someone can commit a crime by simply thinking guilty thoughts is not true. In criminal law, the principle of "mens rea," meaning "guilty mind," requires a certain level of intent or knowledge regarding the criminal act, but merely having thoughts or intentions without accompanying actions does not constitute a crime.

Criminal activity generally requires both a mental state (mens rea) and a physical act (actus reus). Therefore, it is not enough to have thoughts; there has to be a corresponding action or an effort to commit the crime for liability to attach. This distinction is crucial in understanding how criminal liability is adjudicated, emphasizing that thoughts alone, absent action, do not fulfill the requirements for criminal conduct.

In contrast, it is true that a crime needs to be intentional or voluntary, as actions taken under coercion or without intent can lead to different legal outcomes. Similarly, negligence can equate to a guilty mind under certain circumstances, as it involves a failure to act with the level of care that a reasonable person would exercise, thus meeting the criteria for liability. The requirement for mens rea and actus reus to occur at the same time is also a fundamental aspect of criminal law, establishing that both the mental state and