What does 'conduct' refer to in the context of criminal law?

In the context of criminal law, 'conduct' encompasses both acts and omissions that a person may undertake, alongside the mental states that accompany these actions. This concept is crucial because it establishes the framework for assessing criminal liability.

For example, conduct is not just about the physical actions taken by an individual but also about the mental state, or intent, behind those actions—whether the person acted knowingly, recklessly, or with specific intent to commit a crime. This duality ensures that the law considers both what a person did and their mindset at the time of the action, thus providing a comprehensive evaluation of criminal behavior.

The other options focus on narrower aspects of actions or mindsets that do not fully encapsulate what 'conduct' means in the legal context. Actions taken with malicious intent represent only one facet of conduct. Decisions made under duress often involve a lack of genuine intent, which complicates their legal evaluation. Statements made under false pretenses are associated more with deception and fraud rather than the broader range of conduct defined in criminal law.