In order to catch sex offenders, law enforcement may sometime utilize tactics that may be seen as entrapment, meaning that the police persuaded the defendant to commit a crime they did not intend to commit, or would not have committed had the police not suggested it. This includes such undercover police acts as dressing up as prostitutes to catch offenders, and pretending to be underage children seeking sexual contact on the internet. Entrapment is a hard defense to use and is an affirmative defense – meaning it must be proved by the Defendant. Essentially, the Defendant must prove that:
- The idea of committing the sex crime began with the police, not the defendant
- The police urged and induced the defendant to commit luring, prostitution or other sex crime
- The defendant was not predisposed to perpetrate the kind of sex crime before they were induced by the police to do so.
Entrapment is a complex situation, so it is best to consult with a qualified sex crime defense lawyer to discuss your case.
