From Carolina Journal Radio Program No. 729: Some advocates are pushing North Carolina to engage in “mens rea” reform. “Mens rea” is Latin for “guilty mind.” The idea is that some state laws — especially those linked to regulations — do not specify that a person should have an intent to do harm before they can be charged with a crime. Joe Luppino-Esposito, policy analyst for Right on Crime and the Center for Effective Justice at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, explains how North Carolinians would benefit from a clearer application of “mens rea” in the state’s law books.