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If you pay someone to commit a crime, doesn't that make you criminally liable as well? How are they going to reimburse someone for being caught breaking the law

If you pay someone to commit a crime, doesn't that make you criminally liable as well? How are they going to reimburse someone for being caught breaking the law? That seems less than sane.

fiatmoney 12y ago
It's unclear if it's a criminal case (my guess is no). It is relatively common to indemnify partners against civil penalties.
baddox 12y ago
If you legislate and enforce a law that is harmful to society, does that make you criminally liable?
- runeks 12y ago
  Only if your intent is to cause harm, I would say.
- swartkrans 12y ago
  Crime is a function of law, an action is only a crime if it breaks the law. So no legislating the law by lawfully elected individuals is not a crime. This is true even if you disagree with the laws that were written. I will be candid and share with you that I think what you asked is a stupid question on multiple levels. I assume you're riled up whenever the government does its job of governing, which yes, involves enforcing the law and taking things from people, like their freedom and or property. There's a democratic process in place in our country that allows you to help decide who is in power, if you're unhappy with who is in power become more involved in elections.
  - baddox 12y ago
    It's not so simple. I'm not aware of all the laws that would apply in this particular case, which is why I asked the question, but I know that in many jurisdictions there are laws against abuse of power and corruption. If a political official were to explicitly say "I am supporting Proposition X because it will return some benefit to my benefactors," would that not be a criminal offense? Granted, it's well-accepted that such is the norm in politics, but I don't think that means that it's not criminal. Many politicians have been charged with crimes like abuse of official capacity, bribery, and fraud, for similar actions. I disagree with and resent both your claim that my question is stupid and your claim that the recourse for a broken political system is becoming more involved in elections.
    - swartkrans 12y ago
      Corruption is illegal, but that isn't what you asked. I take back what I said about it being stupid though, I've given it more thought since then, and I was stupid for saying it was stupid. It's actually an interesting question.

If you pay someone to commit a crime, doesn't that make you criminally liable as well? How are they going to reimburse someone for being caught breaking the law? That seems less than sane.

fiatmoney 12y ago

It's unclear if it's a criminal case (my guess is no). It is relatively common to indemnify partners against civil penalties.

baddox 12y ago

If you legislate and enforce a law that is harmful to society, does that make you criminally liable?

runeks 12y ago
Only if your intent is to cause harm, I would say.
swartkrans 12y ago
Crime is a function of law, an action is only a crime if it breaks the law. So no legislating the law by lawfully elected individuals is not a crime. This is true even if you disagree with the laws that were written. I will be candid and share with you that I think what you asked is a stupid question on multiple levels. I assume you're riled up whenever the government does its job of governing, which yes, involves enforcing the law and taking things from people, like their freedom and or property. There's a democratic process in place in our country that allows you to help decide who is in power, if you're unhappy with who is in power become more involved in elections.
- baddox 12y ago
  It's not so simple. I'm not aware of all the laws that would apply in this particular case, which is why I asked the question, but I know that in many jurisdictions there are laws against abuse of power and corruption. If a political official were to explicitly say "I am supporting Proposition X because it will return some benefit to my benefactors," would that not be a criminal offense? Granted, it's well-accepted that such is the norm in politics, but I don't think that means that it's not criminal. Many politicians have been charged with crimes like abuse of official capacity, bribery, and fraud, for similar actions. I disagree with and resent both your claim that my question is stupid and your claim that the recourse for a broken political system is becoming more involved in elections.
  - swartkrans 12y ago
    Corruption is illegal, but that isn't what you asked. I take back what I said about it being stupid though, I've given it more thought since then, and I was stupid for saying it was stupid. It's actually an interesting question.