Entrapment is defined as the government unfairly tempting the defendant to commit a crime and originated from the government; which statement best describes entrapment?

Entrapment is defined as the government unfairly tempting the defendant to commit a crime and originated from the government; which statement best describes entrapment?

• A. The defendant had a lengthy prior record
• B. The crime was sparked by a private citizen
• C. The government unfairly tempted the defendant to commit a crime
• D. The defendant voluntarily sought out the crime

Answer: (C)

Entrapment focuses on government inducement. It occurs when government agents unfairly tempt or persuade someone to commit a crime they would not have otherwise planned, and the defense turns on whether the government played the initiating role. A key element is predisposition: even if authorities induced the crime, if the person was already willing and ready to commit it, there isn’t entrapment. If a private citizen sparks the crime or the defendant independently seeks out the crime, there’s no entrapment because the government wasn’t the source of the temptation. So the statement that best describes entrapment is that the government unfairly tempts the defendant to commit a crime.

Entrapment focuses on government inducement. It occurs when government agents unfairly tempt or persuade someone to commit a crime they would not have otherwise planned, and the defense turns on whether the government played the initiating role. A key element is predisposition: even if authorities induced the crime, if the person was already willing and ready to commit it, there isn’t entrapment. If a private citizen sparks the crime or the defendant independently seeks out the crime, there’s no entrapment because the government wasn’t the source of the temptation. So the statement that best describes entrapment is that the government unfairly tempts the defendant to commit a crime.