Cite as: 511 U. S. 600 (1994)
Stevens, J., dissenting
or obnoxious waste materials," see United States v. International Minerals & Chemical Corp., 402 U. S. 558, 565 (1971); (2) they "heighten the duties of those in control of particular industries, trades, properties or activities that affect public health, safety or welfare," Morissette, 342 U. S., at 254; and (3) they "depend on no mental element but consist only of forbidden acts or omissions," id., at 252-253. Examples of such offenses include Congress' exertion of its power to keep dangerous narcotics,10 hazardous substances,11 and impure and adulterated foods and drugs 12 out of the channels of commerce.13
Public welfare statutes render criminal "a type of conduct that a reasonable person should know is subject to stringent public regulation and may seriously threaten the community's health or safety." Liparota v. United States, 471 U. S. 419, 433 (1985). Thus, under such statutes, "a defendant can be convicted even though he was unaware of the circumstances of his conduct that made it illegal." Id., at 443, n. 7 (White, J., dissenting). Referring to the strict criminal sanctions for unintended violations of the food and drug laws, Justice Frankfurter wrote:
"The purposes of this legislation thus touch phases of the lives and health of people which, in the circumstances of modern industrialism, are largely beyond self-protection. Regard for these purposes should in-10 See United States v. Balint, 258 U. S. 250 (1922).
11 See United States v. International Minerals & Chemical Corp., 402 U. S. 558 (1971).
12 See United States v. Dotterweich, 320 U. S. 277 (1943).
13 The Court in Morissette v. United States, 342 U. S. 246 (1952), expressing approval of our public welfare offense cases, stated:
"Neither this Court nor, so far as we are aware, any other has undertaken to delineate a precise line or set forth comprehensive criteria for distinguishing between crimes that require a mental element and crimes that do not. We attempt no closed definition, for the law on the subject is neither settled nor static." Id., at 260 (footnotes omitted).
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