What does it mean to act recklessly in criminal law?

In criminal law, acting recklessly involves a specific mental state regarding the risks associated with one’s conduct. To consciously disregard a substantial and unjustifiable risk means that the person is aware of the risk their actions pose and chooses to ignore that risk. This awareness and decision-making process indicate a level of disregard for the safety of others or the legality of the act.

For instance, if a driver speeds through a busy intersection while knowing that doing so could likely cause an accident but chooses to do it anyway, that driver is acting recklessly. The key components here are the conscious awareness of the risk and the decision to proceed regardless of this knowledge.

The other options do not accurately capture the essence of recklessness. Being unaware of any risks implies negligence rather than recklessness, which requires awareness. Acting without any planning does not address the critical aspect of conscious disregard. Lastly, being fully aware and still committing a crime can pertain to various mental states, including purpose or knowledge, but does not focus on the disregard of risk that defines recklessness.