When defendants argue that they were manipulated into committing a crime by the law enforcement officers investigating them, they can use a legal defense known as “entrapment.” In Illinois, the defense is legally authorized to use entrapment as a legitimate defense as long as it has evidence to back the claims. To learn more about the legal requirements for an entrapment defense, speak with a qualified Aurora, IL criminal defense lawyer with experience helping other clients in similar cases.
What Does Entrapment Mean?
According to Illinois law, entrapment happens when a police officer, informant, or other government agent persuades an otherwise law-abiding individual into engaging in a criminal act. One important aspect of an entrapment defense is that the defendant would not normally have committed the crime, but the influence or pressure that was placed on him or her by law enforcement officers was what ultimately made him or her do what they did. If someone was simply given an opportunity to commit a crime, it would not be enough for an entrapment defense.