What is required for criminal facilitation?

• A. The defendant must believe he is rendering aid to another who is committing a crime.
• B. The defendant must actually help commit the crime.
• C. The defendant must be physically present during the crime.
• D. The defendant must provide weapons.

Answer: (A)

Criminal facilitation hinges on the facilitator’s intent to help a crime be committed. The important point is that liability rests on purposeful assistance—the defendant consciously provides aid with the belief that it will promote or enable the offense. The crime need not be completed, and the facilitator doesn’t have to be physically present or supply weapons. So the best answer is that the defendant must believe he is rendering aid to another who is committing a crime, because it reflects the required mindset—intent to facilitate—behind criminal facilitation.