What Is Guilty By Association in Law?
Guilty by association is a legal term used to describe when an individual is guilty of committing a crime through knowing someone else, rather than by any hard and direct evidence against them. It is important to properly understand the definition of guilty by association and how these charges affect a person. And in this guide, we share all of this information and more.
What Does Guilty By Association Mean?
The phrase “guilty by association” is heard both inside and outside the legal context. It generally refers to when someone doesn’t do anything wrong, yet someone they are associated with has, and therefore, they are judged in the same light because of this association. To properly define the phrase, it’s best to give some everyday examples in which you’d be found guilty of association that isn’t linked to law:
Having friends that often shoplift, and thereby having the reputation of being a thief, despite never stealing anything or committing crimes yourself.
Having close family members who are part of a terrorist organization and thereby being thought of as a terrorist, despite never being involved in their activities.
Having friends who speak in a discriminatory manner and do not speak up to them, thus being assumed to have the same thoughts and beliefs as they do.
So, what is guilty by association in law? According to the US legal system, the definition of guilty by association is: “guilt ascribed to someone not because of any evidence, but because of their association with an offender.” This situation is also known as the “association fallacy” and can mean a person may be charged with a crime despite a lack of evidence against them directly. If there is enough evidence proving the person they’re associated with committed the offense and helped with the crime, this person can be charged.
How Does Guilty By Association Work?
In the US, current legislation means that a judge or jury can’t punish someone for association with an offender. There is no specific guilt by association charge, and association fallacy is not a valid charge. Therefore, if someone is arrested for a crime due to their associations, it is up to the prosecution to find evidence to prove this claim. In other words, the prosecutors must find hard evidence against the accused proving they committed the crime for them to be charged. At this point, the person then becomes an accessory to the crime and will face punishment.
However, this is not always how things work out. There are flaws in the US legal system, and people get wrongly accused of committing crimes. When charged — even only by association fallacy — it is essential to appoint a skilled lawyer to help fight your defense.
Examples of Guilt By Association
To better understand guilty by association law, we look at some examples. These are all real legal cases in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Drugs in a vehicle: Maryland v. Pringle
The Maryland v. Pringle drug crime of 2003 is a classic example. Police officers seized a car that was found to have cocaine and money inside. Pringle, the front-seat passenger, was charged with possession and intent to distribute following the arrest. However, Pringle filed an appeal on the grounds of guilt by association, arguing that finding cocaine in a car was not substantial evidence that the drugs belonged to him. The courts agreed and reversed the conviction. However, it made it to the Supreme Court, which agreed with the initial sentencing and charges.
Murder charges: R v. Jogee
The R v. Jogee case is another example, this time within the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. It was an appeal against earlier sentencing for a crime committed in 2011. On the night of the offense, Jogee and co-defendant Hirsi had both taken drugs. They went to visit a woman called Naomi Reid, who was in a relationship with Fyfe. Fyfe returned home, and Hirsi stabbed and murdered him while Jogee shouted words of encouragement. In court, Jogee was found guilty by association and convicted of murder. However, after an appeal to the Supreme Court, they agreed Jogee should not be found guilty of the crimes due to a lack of substantial evidence.
How Many Years for Guilty By Association?
Guilty by association law states that association fallacy is not recognized as a means for a conviction. Citizens may be arrested for a crime through association; however, enough evidence must be found to prove their involvement to be prosecuted. At this point, they become an accessory to a crime. For example, if the associated person helped to take steps to cover up the crime or plan the offense, they could be charged. Yet simply knowing the offender and being at the scene of the crimes is not deemed enough proof for them to be found guilty.
Therefore, the number of years for guilty by association charges should be zero. No one should ever be punished simply for knowing a criminal. However, there are flaws in all legal systems in the world. Many people are often convicted of crimes they didn’t commit, with the R v. Jogee case being a prime example. The number of years of imprisonment the defendant may be sentenced to depends upon the crime of which they’ve been accused.
Conclusion
In law, to be guilty of association means that you have some involvement with a person who has committed a crime. It is not a valid charge, and there must be substantial evidence found against the defendant to prove their involvement. Only then can they be charged, either for committing the crime itself or as an accessory.
However, people are wrongly accused of crimes they did not commit all the time. If you have been charged with guilty by association, speak to a qualified lawyer who can help explain your legal rights and file an affidavit confirming the truthfulness of your statements. Or, if you think you have been wrongly convicted, and the courts lack evidence against you, appeal to the courts on the grounds of guilt by association. Again, a legal professional can help with this.
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