2 ms·

Intent is relevant to the severity. Murder is a crime, manslaughter is a crime. Criminal fraud requires intent, civil fraud does not. Lacking intent does not

• lazide 3y ago
  The difference between murder, manslaughter, an accident, or even justifiable homicide is exactly one of intent/knowledge. 2 of those 4 are crimes. 2 are not. Criminal fraud and civil fraud both require knowledge (or a reasonable belief that it was likely) that one was lying - which is intent, if one moves forward. Thinking you are telling the truth (actually!) means no fraud. There are many crimes that do not exist without intent. There are also many crimes that exist regardless of intent, like possession of controlled substances, statutory rape, etc. Now damn near anything can be a tort of course, but while those can produce large damages in a civil suit - they aren’t crimes per se. You’d need a criminal violation for that.