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Simple English definitions for legal terms
accessory after the fact
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A quick definition of accessory after the fact:
Term: Accessory after the fact
Definition: An accessory after the fact is someone who helps a person who has committed a crime, knowing that they did it, and with the intention of helping them avoid getting caught or punished. This is against the law and can result in charges of obstruction of justice. The government must prove that the person helped the criminal after the crime was committed.
A more thorough explanation:
An accessory-after-the-fact is a person who helps someone who has committed a crime, knowing that they committed the crime, and with the intention of helping them avoid getting caught or punished. This person can be charged with obstruction of justice.
For example, if someone helps their friend hide evidence after they committed a robbery, they could be considered an accessory after the fact. Another example would be if someone gives their family member a place to stay after they committed a murder, knowing that the police are looking for them.
The government has to prove that the person helped the criminal after the crime was committed. The Supreme Court has ruled that an accessory-after-the-fact cannot be held liable as a principal offender, unlike an accessory before the fact.