In
criminal law,
strict liability is liability for which
mens rea (
Latin for "guilty mind") does not have to be proven in relation to one or more elements comprising the
actus reus (Latin for "guilty act") although
intention,
recklessness or knowledge may be required in relation to other elements of the offence. The liability is said to be strict because defendants will be convicted even though they were genuinely ignorant of one or more factors that made their acts or
omissions criminal. The defendants may therefore not be
culpable in any real way, i.e. there is not even
criminal negligence, the least blameworthy level of
mens rea.