What are mere presence and mere knowledge insufficient for?

Mere presence and mere knowledge are insufficient for establishing accomplice liability in criminal law. Accomplice liability requires that a person not only be present during the commission of a crime or have knowledge of the crime but also must actively participate or assist in the criminal activity in some manner. This means that simply being at the scene of the crime or knowing that a crime is happening does not make an individual legally culpable as an accomplice.

In the context of accomplice liability, the law looks for actions that demonstrate a willingness to aid or support the primary actor in committing the crime. For example, if a person is merely watching a robbery take place without any form of encouragement, assistance, or involvement, they cannot be held responsible as an accomplice. Thus, mere presence or knowledge does not equate to the necessary level of participation required for criminal liability as an accomplice.

This clarification underscores the legal principles surrounding accomplice liability and helps in understanding the threshold of involvement required to assign culpability in a criminal act.