This document defines different roles in criminal acts: a principal directly commits the crime, an accomplice helps the principal, an accessory before the fact helps plan but is not present, and an accessory after the fact helps hide or cover up evidence of the crime. It also defines extortion as obtaining something through threats and solicitation as asking someone to commit or help with a crime.

2.  1. Principal- The person who actually commits
the crime
 Ex. The person who fires the gun in a murder

3.  2. Accomplice- The person who helps the
principal commit the crime
 Ex. The person who drives the getaway car
 An accomplice may be charged and
convicted of the same crime as the principal
 If two people rob a bank and the principal
kills a teller, both can be convicted of
murder

4.  3. Accessory Before the Fact- the person who
helps organize or order a crime but is not
present during the act itself
 Ex. If a person hires someone to kill their
spouse
 They can face the same charges as the
principal, most likely first degree murder

5.  4. Accessory After the Fact- Person who had
nothing to do with the crime itself, but then
helps the person hide or escape from police, or
cover up evidence
 Ex. A friend lets a fugitive hide out at their
house while police are looking for them
 They will not be charged with the same crime
as the principal, but aiding a fugitive or
obstructing justice

6.  Extortion- the practice of obtaining something,
especially money, through force or threats
(Blackmail)
 Ex. The mob offers “protection” for
businesses for a fee

7.  Soliticitation- When a person asks or entices
another person to commit or help them commit
a crime
 Ex. A person asks a friend to be a lookout in
a burglary