What describes criminal solicitation?

• A. When with intent that another engage in criminal conduct, he solicits, requests, commands, importunes, or otherwise attempts to cause such conduct.
• B. When he personally commits the crime.
• C. When two people plan but do not act.
• D. When he aids in the crime without intending to participate.

Answer: (A)

Solicitation is the act of inviting or requesting someone else to commit a crime, with the intent that they do so. The essence is the speaker’s purpose to cause another person to engage in criminal conduct, accomplished by asking, commanding, or otherwise attempting to persuade them to commit it. This offense is complete even if the other person refuses or if the crime is never actually attempted or carried out by anyone.

This description fits because it captures two key elements: the mental state (intent to cause the crime) and the conduct (soliciting, requesting, commanding, etc.). It does not require the solicitor to personally commit the crime, which rules out the action of the offense being the criminal act itself. It also isn’t about planning with another person (that would be conspiracy), nor about aiding someone else in the crime without intent to participate (that would be aiding or abetting or being an accessory, not solicitation).