6.1: Study Points

• Identify the four parties to crime at early common law.
• Identify the parties to crime in modern times.
• Define the criminal act element required for accomplice liability.
• Define the criminal intent element required for accomplice liability.
• Define the natural and probable consequences doctrine.
• Discuss the consequences of accomplice liability.
• Determine whether an accomplice can be prosecuted when the principal is not prosecuted or acquitted

 

Often more than one criminal defendant plays a role in the commission of a crime. Defendants working together with a common criminal purpose or design are acting with complicity. When the participation and criminal conduct varies among the defendants, an issue arises as to who is responsible for which crime and to what degree. This chapter analyzes different parties to crime, along with their accompanying criminal liability. Chapter 8 “Inchoate Offenses” examines crimes that necessarily involve more than one person such as conspiracy and solicitation, as well as another inchoate or incomplete crime, attempt.

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