In legal contexts, how is 'entrapment' defined?

Entrapment is defined within legal contexts as the act of inducing a person to commit a crime they would not have otherwise committed. This typically involves law enforcement or other agents of the state persuading or enticing an individual to engage in illegal activity by offering various forms of incentives. The concept is significant in criminal law as it addresses the ethical boundaries within which law enforcement operate in order to prevent abuses of power and protect individuals from being manipulated into criminal actions.

The correct choice emphasizes the critical notion that for entrapment to be established, the individual must have been persuaded to commit a crime that they were not predisposed to commit. This means that the focus is not solely on the crime itself but also on the actions of law enforcement in potentially encouraging illicit behavior. The legal standards for entrapment vary by jurisdiction, but the underlying principle remains consistent: protection against coercive tactics that may lead an innocent person to break the law.