Task: fill in the chart below

The person who commits the crime is the perpetrator, the principle (though two or more persons may be perpetrators, for example, "group rape" or conspiracy). The person who plays a secondary role, assists the principal, is the accomplice, the accessory.

Principles may be either in the first or in the second degree¹, while accessories may be either before or after the fact².

A principal in the first degree is the person who actually did the criminal act or was guilty of criminal omission, either with his own hand or through an innocent agent, e.g. a child.

A principal in the second degree is the person who, without actually taking part, is present at the commission of a crime. An accessory before the fact is one who, without being present at its commission, advises or procures it to be done, and does not countermand it before it is done.

An accessory after the fact is one who assists or permits the escape of the criminal.

Thus, accomplices may be charged with procuring an offence, abetting, aiding or counselling. Sometimes aiding and abetting are regarded as meaning much the same thing.

Notes:

1. principals in the first or in the second degree     2. accessories before or after the fact

– первой и второй степени (лица, фактически совершающие преступление или оказывающие пособничество в совершении исполнители преступления) – соучастники до или после совершения преступления (подстрекатели или укрыватели)

 

Ex. 1. Here are the answers to some questions on the text. What are the questions?

The person who commits the crime is the perpetrator. (special)

Principals may be either in the first or in the second degree. (alternative)

A person did the criminal act with his own hand. (special)

An accessory after the fact assists or permits the escape of the criminal.(general)

Sometimes aiding and abetting are regarded as meaning much the same thing. (disjunctive)

 

Text C. “Juvenile Delinquency”