Under the entrapment rule described, entrapment is not a defense if which of the following occurs?

Under the entrapment rule described, entrapment is not a defense if which of the following occurs?

• A. The defendant is a minor.
• B. The public servant merely provides an opportunity to commit the offense.
• C. The offense involves no physical injury.
• D. The defendant had prior criminal history.

Answer: (B)

Entrapment hinges on whether the government induced you to commit a crime or simply set up a situation where the crime could be committed. When a public servant merely provides an opportunity to commit the offense, that does not amount to entrapment. In this situation, the defendant’s own predisposition to commit the crime is what matters, and the government hasn’t manipulated or persuaded them into breaking the law. So the defense of entrapment isn't available. The other factors—being a minor, the absence of physical injury, or having prior criminal history—don't alone determine entrapment. Age or injury status isn’t what triggers entrapment, and prior criminal history may influence how a defendant is viewed (e.g., weight of predisposition), but it doesn't by itself make entrapment a valid defense if the government only provided an opportunity.

Entrapment hinges on whether the government induced you to commit a crime or simply set up a situation where the crime could be committed. When a public servant merely provides an opportunity to commit the offense, that does not amount to entrapment. In this situation, the defendant’s own predisposition to commit the crime is what matters, and the government hasn’t manipulated or persuaded them into breaking the law. So the defense of entrapment isn't available.

The other factors—being a minor, the absence of physical injury, or having prior criminal history—don't alone determine entrapment. Age or injury status isn’t what triggers entrapment, and prior criminal history may influence how a defendant is viewed (e.g., weight of predisposition), but it doesn't by itself make entrapment a valid defense if the government only provided an opportunity.