Criminal Justice Practice Exam

Which of the following terms is defined as a legal defense against criminal responsibility when a person is induced into committing a crime by a law enforcement officer?

1. Insanity

2. Entrapment

3. Self-defense

4. Duress

The correct answer is: Entrapment

The term that describes a legal defense against criminal responsibility when a person is induced into committing a crime by a law enforcement officer is entrapment. This defense asserts that an individual should not be held liable for a crime if they were persuaded or coerced to commit that crime by law enforcement agents who would not otherwise have committed the crime. Entrapment emphasizes the role of the government in creating the crime, suggesting that the defendant was not predisposed to engage in the illegal conduct without the officer's involvement. Other terms listed address different situations. Insanity refers to a mental condition that prevents a defendant from understanding the nature of their actions or distinguishing right from wrong. Self-defense involves using reasonable force to protect oneself from imminent harm, while duress applies when a person is forced to commit a crime due to immediate threats of serious harm or death, usually at the hands of another individual. None of these concepts encompass the specific act of being induced by law enforcement agencies, which is precisely what entrapment addresses.