Soliciting? Which of the following statements is correct?

• A. Asking (requires 2 people)
• B. Agreeing to commit a crime
• C. Planning a crime
• D. Providing a defense

Answer: (A)

Solicitation is the act of asking, urging, or commanding someone else to commit a crime. The key elements are a request and two parties: the person who asks and the person who is asked. The offense is complete at the moment the request is made, even if the other person refuses or the crime is never carried out. That’s why the statement describing solicitation as “Asking (requires 2 people)” fits best: it captures both the act of asking and the involvement of another person.

The other options describe different criminal concepts. Agreeing to commit a crime is conspiracy, which requires an agreement between two or more people to commit the offense and the intent to do so. Planning a crime points more to attempt or preparation, which involve steps toward committing the crime but not the act of soliciting another to commit it. Providing a defense has nothing to do with soliciting a crime.