What is entrap?

ment.

Entrapment is a legal defense argument that can be used in criminal trials. It occurs when law enforcement officials coerce or induce an individual to commit a crime that they would not have otherwise committed. The purpose of entrapment is to establish that the individual was not predisposed to commit the crime and that law enforcement officials created a situation where it was difficult for the individual to resist committing the crime.

For entrapment to be a valid defense, the defendant must prove that they would not have committed the crime if they were not induced or coerced by law enforcement officials. Additionally, they must show that the culpability for the crime rests on the law enforcement officials who induced or coerced them rather than on the defendant themselves.

Entrapment is a difficult defense to use because the burden of proof rests on the defendant and proving entrapment can be challenging. Courts will also consider the nature of the crime, the actions of the law enforcement officials, and the defendant's predisposition to criminal activity when deciding whether entrapment has occurred.