Suburban Law Enforcement Academy (SLEA) BA State Certification Practice Exam

What term describes the act of commanding or encouraging someone to commit an offense?

1. Conspiracy

2. Encouragement

3. Solicitation

4. Incitement

The correct answer is: Solicitation

The term that describes the act of commanding or encouraging someone to commit an offense is solicitation. Solicitation involves actively seeking to persuade or influence another person to engage in illegal activity. In legal contexts, it is recognized as an attempt to induce another to commit a crime, regardless of whether the crime is eventually carried out. The concept of solicitation is critical in law enforcement because it highlights an individual's proactive role in facilitating criminal behavior. For example, if someone approaches another person and encourages them to commit theft, that act qualifies as solicitation, even if the person does not ultimately follow through with the crime. Other terms in the list refer to different legal concepts. Conspiracy involves an agreement between two or more people to commit a crime, while incitement refers to encouraging or urging someone to engage in unlawful behavior, often in a more aggressive or inflammatory manner. Encouragement is too general a term and does not capture the specific legal implications associated with solicitation.