Legal Definitions - aid and abet

Definition: Aid and Abet means to assist someone in committing or to encourage someone to commit a crime. Generally, an aider and abettor is criminally liable to the same extent as the person committing the crime.

For example, if someone helps a friend rob a store by driving the getaway car, they are aiding and abetting the crime. Even if they did not physically participate in the robbery, they are still responsible for the crime because they helped their friend commit it.

Another example is if someone encourages their friend to sell drugs and helps them find customers. Even if they do not sell the drugs themselves, they are still aiding and abetting the crime.

These examples illustrate how aiding and abetting works. If someone helps or encourages someone else to commit a crime, they can be held responsible for that crime just like the person who actually committed it.