NY Penal Law 15.10 – Requirements for criminal liability in general and for offenses of strict liability and mental culpability

Requirements for criminal liability in general and for offenses of strict liability and mental culpability.

The minimal requirement for criminal liability is the performance by a person of conduct which includes a voluntary act or the omission to perform an act which he is physically capable of performing. If such conduct is all that is required for commission of a particular offense, or if an offense or some material element thereof does not require a culpable mental state on the part of the actor, such offense is one of “strict liability. “ If a culpable mental state on the part of the actor is required with respect to every material element of an offense, such offense is one of “mental culpability.”