Negligent Knowledge of the Law

Reasonable Legal Mistake and Lack of Intent to Cause Harm as a Legal Defense

By using terms such as “good faith” and “reasonable belief,” the MPC already accepts the idea that sometimes people are not blameworthy for their ignorance. However, there appears to be a justification gap in the MPC's punishing of reasonable efforts to follow the law with no intent to harm. Without a rationale based on justice to support the idea that such acts are blameworthy, the MPC violates one of the basic tenets of criminal law: criminal liability falls only on those at fault for their conduct. Due to these reasons, reasonable efforts to follow the law with no intent to harm should not give rise to criminal liability.