List the culpable mental states from the highest to the lowest.

• A. Intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, criminal negligence.
• B. Intentionally, recklessly, knowingly, criminal negligence.
• C. Knowingly, intentionally, recklessly, criminal negligence.
• D. Criminal negligence, recklessly, knowingly, intentionally.

Answer: (A)

Culpable mental states are ranked by how much purposeful fault the actor shows. Intentionally is the highest because the person acts with a specific purpose to bring about the result. Next is knowingly, where the person is aware that the result is practically certain or will occur due to their conduct, even if that result isn’t the exact aim. After that comes recklessly, which means the person consciously disregards a substantial and unjustified risk. At the bottom is criminal negligence, defined as failing to perceive a risk that a reasonable person would have noticed. This ordering reflects increasing levels of fault, so the sequence makes the most sense.