What is required for accomplice liability to be established?

Accomplice liability is a legal concept that holds a person responsible for a crime committed by another if that person assists or encourages the principal in the commission of the crime, with the specific intent for that crime to be completed. This means that for an individual to be charged and found liable as an accomplice, two primary components must be present: there must be an act of assistance or encouragement, and the accomplice must have the intent for the principal's criminal actions to occur.

The importance of the intent requirement is key; simply being present at the crime scene or having a vague knowledge of the crime is not sufficient for accomplice liability. The law seeks to distinguish between those who actively support and intend for the crime to happen versus those who may passively observe or be unwittingly involved.

In this context, being a victim or having prior knowledge of a crime does not intrinsically establish liability. The focus remains on the active role taken by the accomplice in contributing to the criminal act itself. Therefore, the correct choice highlights the necessity for both action and intent in establishing accomplice liability.