What does instigation refer to in a criminal context?

Instigation in a criminal context refers to the act of encouraging or prompting someone to commit a crime. This concept highlights the role of influence in criminal activity, where one person may urge, provoke, or facilitate another individual to engage in unlawful behavior. Such actions can result in legal consequences, where the instigator may be held liable for their role in promoting or inciting criminal acts, even if they do not directly carry out the crime themselves. Understanding instigation is crucial, particularly in cases where the distinction between merely suggesting a crime and actively participating in it becomes focal in legal arguments and jury considerations. This reinforces the notion that not only the principal offender but also those who encourage or instigate can be held accountable under criminal law.