Which defense asserts that law enforcement induced the defendant to commit a crime they otherwise would not have committed?

• A. Duress
• B. Entrapment
• C. Necessity
• D. Coercion

Answer: (B)

Entrapment is a defense built on government involvement in getting someone to commit a crime they would not have committed otherwise. It focuses on the idea that law enforcement induced the offender to break the law, rather than the person having a predisposition to commit the act. If officers use tactics that pressure, persuade, or entice someone who wouldn’t have offended on their own—such as offering an opportunity, promises, or encouragement—the defense can be raised.

This differs from duress, which centers on threatening harm by another person to force the crime, and from coercion, which similarly involves pressure or threats by another party. Necessity, on the other hand, justifies breaking the law to prevent a greater imminent harm. Because the scenario specifically involves police inducement leading to the crime, entrapment is the best fit.