Which term describes someone who is not the chief actor in a crime but is involved before or after the act?

Which term describes someone who is not the chief actor in a crime but is involved before or after the act?

• A. Admission
• B. Accessory
• C. Arrest
• D. Battery

Answer: (B)

In criminal law, the term for someone who isn’t the main actor but participates by helping before or after the crime is an accessory. An accessory before the fact assists in planning or facilitating the offense, though they aren’t present during the act itself. An accessory after the fact helps the offender after the crime, such as by concealing evidence or aiding in escape. This description fits best because the person is linked to the crime through their assistance, not as the principal who commits the act. The other terms don’t describe a person in that way: an admission is a confession, arrest is the act of taking someone into custody, and battery is the actual harmful contact constituting the crime.

In criminal law, the term for someone who isn’t the main actor but participates by helping before or after the crime is an accessory. An accessory before the fact assists in planning or facilitating the offense, though they aren’t present during the act itself. An accessory after the fact helps the offender after the crime, such as by concealing evidence or aiding in escape. This description fits best because the person is linked to the crime through their assistance, not as the principal who commits the act. The other terms don’t describe a person in that way: an admission is a confession, arrest is the act of taking someone into custody, and battery is the actual harmful contact constituting the crime.