Which description best defines intent?

• A. The absence of intent regardless of actions.
• B. Demonstrated through aggressive actions or lack of compliance; the desire or willingness to cause death, serious bodily harm.
• C. Intent is evidenced solely by verbal threats...
• D. Intent is not required to assess threat.

Answer: (C)

Intent is the purposeful aim to cause harm. In threat assessment, intent is shown when a person expresses a plan or willingness to commit harm. Verbal threats provide a direct, explicit signal of that intent, which is why describing intent as evidenced solely by verbal threats is the best fit in this item. The other statements either negate intent, rely only on actions, or claim intent isn’t necessary to assess threat, none of which accurately captures how intent is observed in many situations.