Which of the following is NOT a recognized mental state under the law?

The term "carelessly" is not a recognized mental state under the law. In legal contexts, particularly in criminal law, mental states refer to the intention or mindset of a person at the time of committing an act.

The recognized mental states include "purposely," "recklessly," and "negligently." Each of these terms has a specific definition:

• "Purposely" indicates a conscious objective to engage in conduct or to achieve a result.

• "Recklessly" describes a situation where a person disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk that their actions may cause harm, demonstrating a gross deviation from the standard of conduct that a law-abiding person would observe.

• "Negligently" refers to a failure to be aware of a substantial and unjustifiable risk that constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of care that a reasonable person would exercise.

"Carelessly" may be used in everyday language to describe a lack of attention or due diligence, but it does not have a distinct legal definition and thus does not align with the established mental states that the law recognizes.