Utah legal term
Constructive awareness in Utah Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Utah legislative session
In Utah criminal law, “Constructive awareness” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the Utah criminal code.
What does “Constructive awareness” mean in Utah criminal law?
"Constructive awareness" means that: (3)(a) a reasonable inspection or observation by an individual under the circumstances would have disclosed the nature of the subject matter; and (3)(b) a failure to inspect or observe by the individual is either for the purpose of avoiding the disclosure or the individual is criminally negligent. (Utah Code Ann. § 76-5c-101)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.