California POST Training Practice Test

What does transferred intent refer to in criminal law?

1. Accidental injuries

2. Intent affecting an unintended victim

3. General negligence

4. Substantial risk acknowledgment

The correct answer is: Intent affecting an unintended victim

Transferred intent is a legal doctrine in criminal law that applies when an individual has the intention to cause harm to one person but inadvertently causes harm to another. This principle allows the intent to "transfer" from the intended victim to the actual victim. For instance, if a person throws a rock intending to hit one individual but accidentally strikes another, the intent to harm the first individual can be applied to the actual harm done to the second individual. The concept reinforces the idea that a perpetrator can still be held liable for criminal actions even if the result was not directed at the actual victim. This reflects the legal system's focus on the intention behind an act rather than its precise execution, allowing for a more equitable approach to accountability in cases where the consequences of actions deviate from the original plan. The other choices, while they describe various aspects of law, do not encapsulate the core idea of transferred intent. Accidental injuries refer to unintentional harm without any intent, general negligence pertains to failure to act with reasonable care, and substantial risk acknowledgment relates to a different legal framework regarding awareness of danger rather than the specific transfer of intent.