Define: Parties To Crime

Parties to a crime refers to individuals who are involved in the commission of a criminal offense. In legal terms, there are several categories of parties to a crime:

Principal: The principal is the person who directly commits the criminal act or carries out the offense. They are typically the main perpetrator of the crime.

Accomplice: An accomplice is someone who aids, assists, encourages, or facilitates the commission of a crime, either before or during the act. Accomplices may be equally liable for the offense as principals, depending on their level of involvement.

Accessory: An accessory is someone who knowingly assists or harbors a principal or accomplice after the commission of a crime, with the intent to help them avoid arrest, prosecution, or punishment.

Conspiracy: Conspiracy involves an agreement between two or more people to commit a crime, along with an overt act in furtherance of the conspiracy. Even if the planned crime is not carried out, participants can still be charged with conspiracy.

Determining the culpability of parties to a crime often involves assessing their intent, knowledge, and level of participation in the criminal act. Each jurisdiction may have specific laws and legal principles governing liability for parties to a crime.

There are various ways in which persons can be jointly liable for, or in respect of, committing a criminal offence.

More than one method of collaboration can apply in the same offence.

• A person may be an Accomplice to a principal offender; that is, he may ‘aid, abet, counsel, or procure’ the offence, while not being the direct cause of the Actus Reus.
• Parties can enter into Conspiracy to commit an offence.
• Parties can enter into a Joint enterprise to commit an offence, although it is not clear whether this is distinct from the parties’ being accomplices to each other.
• A person may give Assistance after the offence.
• A person may provide Incitement to another to commit a crime (this is different from the ‘counselling’ required of an accomplice).
• A person may be dissuaded from prosecution by an offer of reward (see: Compounding and misprision).

This site contains general legal information but does not constitute professional legal advice for your particular situation. Persuing this glossary does not create an attorney-client or legal adviser relationship. If you have specific questions, please consult a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction.

This glossary post was last updated: 29th March, 2024.