Complicity in criminal law essay example

What is complicity called, what are the elements of the offense, and what is the degree of offense relative to the crime that is committed? Complicity is called aiding and abetting and is termed as the act encouraging or helping others to commit a crime. It involves someone aiding others in committing a crime whereby he or she may not participate in committing the crime but his or her actions assist others in committing a crime. An outstanding example is someone who supplies others with weapons. The elements of this offense include commitment of a crime by another person. In addition, the accused person took part in the offense by aiding, commanding or encouraging others to commit the crime. Furthermore, the aider acted with the intensions of encouraging or helping another person to commit the offense and finally, the aider acted in the same degree of mental state satisfactory for the commitment of the crime (Criminal law in Florida, 1966). If all this elements prevail in certain circumstance then this action qualifies to be complicity. The degree of the offense relative to the crime that is committed is taken to be of the same level.
What is conspiracy called, what are the elements of that offense, is any other act required by anyone, and what is the degree of the offense relative to the crime that is being planned? Conspiracy is an act of having a common goal between two or more person aimed towards committing a crime at a given time to another party. The act amounts to a crime if two or more people’s agreement are intended at committing an offense. The elements for conspiracy are that; there should be an agreement between two or more parties whose intention is to commit a crime to another party. In addition, these parties should be willing to go ahead and fulfill their agreement. Finally, the parties should participate in the crime as planned. The degree of the offense is taken to be at per with the crime being planned if the parties involved go ahead and perform the act as per their agreements (Criminal law in Florida, 1966).
What are the offenses that could be classified in the category of someone who gives aid to an offender after the commission of an offense?” One of the offenses associated with someone who gives another an aid to commit a crime is negligence. The defendant is charged with an offense of being negligent after helping another to do unlawful act. In addition, the defendant is also taken to be an inciter for aiding, helping and encouraging another to commit the crime which acts as an accelerator to the commit the crime.

Reference

Criminal law in Florida ([4th ed.). (1966). S. l.: Sheriff’s Dept., Metropolitan Dade County, Fla..