What is entrapment in the federal criminal justice system?

Entrapment is an important legal concept in the federal criminal justice system. It is the idea that agents of the government (like police officers) cannot induce or instigate a person to commit a crime they otherwise would have never committed. In other words, an individual cannot be tricked or coerced into committing a crime by government agents. In Maryland, entrapment applies to federal crimes just as it does in most of the other states. In order to prove entrapment in Maryland, a person charged with a federal crime must show that the police or government agent had a specific intent to get the accused person to commit the crime. This means that the person must show that the government agent was actively trying to get them to commit the crime, and not just creating an opportunity for the crime to be committed. The defense of entrapment can be used to mitigate or reduce the charges and penalties a person faces in a criminal case in federal court. This is particularly useful for someone who has been charged with a federal crime after being encouraged or pushed by a government agent. If the defense of entrapment is successful, the charges of the accused can be significantly reduced or even dismissed.

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What is entrapment in the federal criminal justice system?

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