Legal Definitions - complete voluntary trust

Complicity refers to the legal concept of being involved in a criminal act, not necessarily by committing the main offense, but by associating with or participating in it in some way. It describes the state of being an accomplice, meaning someone who helps another person commit a crime, either before or during its commission.

• Example 1: Providing Critical Information

  Imagine a scenario where a disgruntled employee, aware of a planned corporate espionage attempt, provides confidential company network access codes and server locations to a competitor. Although the employee does not personally hack into the systems or steal data, their actions of supplying crucial intelligence make them liable for complicity in the corporate espionage. They associated with and participated in the criminal act by enabling it with their knowledge.

• Example 2: Acting as a Lookout

  Consider two individuals, Maya and Liam. Maya plans to shoplift expensive items from a department store. Liam agrees to stand by the entrance, watching for security guards or store employees, and signal Maya if anyone approaches. While Maya is inside committing the theft, Liam is acting as the lookout. Liam's role, though not involving the physical taking of items, constitutes complicity because he actively participated in the criminal act by providing essential support and reducing the risk of detection for Maya.

• Example 3: Conspiring to Commit a Crime

  A group of individuals plans to commit a large-scale online phishing scam. One member of the group, Chloe, designs the convincing fake websites and email templates used to trick victims into revealing their personal information. However, Chloe is on vacation when the actual phishing emails are sent out and the fraudulent websites are launched. Even though Chloe was not physically present for the execution of the scam, her significant role in planning and preparing the tools for the fraudulent scheme makes her liable for complicity. She associated with and participated in the criminal act through her preparatory actions.