Crimes that are reported are always punished; we often hear about major crimes such as murder and rape and theft that are punished severely. What if one of those crimes was a criminal conspiracy?
Criminal conspiracies are also charged and punished in the eyes of law, but the case isn’t as simple. Let’s see what criminal conspiracies are and how many years of imprisonment they have.
Conspiracy Definition
Conspiracy in simple words means the agreement of two parties to do something unlawful and criminal. Many felonies are committed as a result of two or more people coming together, planning and plotting and then carrying out the crime. Such an agreement and meeting is known as a conspiracy.
What does Conspiracy mean in Law?
In law, a conspiracy must have a criminal motive or agenda as the end goal; it is simply a plan made by two or more people to engage in a felony and then take steps towards it. The step taken isn’t necessarily a crime, but it must indicate that it was done to reach the bigger goal.
For instance, if a group of five people made a plan to rob a bank next month, and one of them went in the property to take notes of the security cameras and guards there, and another person went to rent a vehicle to be used in the heist- individually taking notes and renting a vehicle isn’t a crime, but since they were the steps taken to commit a crime, there is a conspiracy and the five of them will be punished accordingly.
There are a few things to note before a conspiracy is called a ‘conspiracy’.
Agreement: This doesn’t have to be a formal agreement to commit a crime, none of the members need to formally agree with the plan that ‘they agree’, but the situation may imply. For instance, planning or attending a meeting where the plan is being discussed.
Intent: This is very important to charge a person with conspiracy, the intention of doing the crime or helping the actual criminal. If your friend tells you they’re going to rob a bank, you won’t be considered a co-conspirator because you didn’t have any part except knowing only what your friend told you. But if you wish to help him by being the getaway driver, or giving them tips and tricks for the heist, you will be punished. However, courts also take into account the mental state of the conspirator.
Overt Act: This is the act of actually committing the crime by dragging in all people involved in conspiring it. Whether the crime was done or not, conspiring it was crime itself which is punished. However, every casual planning will NOT be considered a conspiracy. For instance if three drunk friends conspired to rob a liquor store, but none of them ever did anything about it, it won’t be considered a conspiracy, thus cannot be punished.
Conspiracy Synonym
According to the Oxford dictionary, there are many synonyms of the noun ‘conspiracy’. In law even, to refer to ‘conspiracy’, other words are also used, such as:
- Plot
- Scheme
- Stratagem
- Plan
- Machination
- Cabal
- Intrigue
- Palace Intrigue
- Deception
- Ploy
- Trick
- Ruse
- Dodge
- Subterfuge
Felony Conspiracy Jail Time
Committing a crime or conspiring to commit a crime are both equally punishable in the eyes of the law. The penalty is harsh and sometimes, along with the jail sentence, there could be heavy fines too. Under the law, the punishment for conspiracy varies.
The punishment for armed robbery is 10-25 years in prison, and the conspiracy for that is punishable by 10-25 years as well. But if a person is convicted of the crime as well as conspiring against it, the punishment could even exceed 50 years.
The minimum for a conspiracy is 5 years in jail, non-negotiable.
Conspiracy to commit Burglary Sentence
A felony burglary conviction can lock you up in the prison for about 20 years, but if it’s just a conspiracy and it is proved that you weren’t an active part in the crime, a minimum of 1 year is still there. A misdemeanor too can get you in prison for at least a year.
Along with this, there are fines. A burglary fine can be $100,000 and can be more if it is convicted. A burglary misdemeanor fine is usually less than $1,000.
There are severe punishments for other felonies as well, including lifetime imprisonment and thousands of dollars in fine.
| Classification | Crime
(CGS §) |
Mandatory Minimum Sentence | Maximum Prison Sentence |
| Capital Felony | Capital felony
(53a-54b) |
Execution or life imprisonment without possibility of release | Same |
| Class A Felonies | Aggravated sexual assault of a minor
(53a-70c, 2008 Supp.) |
● 1st offense: 25 years
● Subsequent offense: 50 years |
25 years |
| Murder
(53a-54a) |
25 years | 60 years | |
| Felony murder
(53a-54c) |
25 years | 60 years | |
| Assault of pregnant woman resulting in termination of pregnancy
(53a-59c) |
10 years | 25 years | |
| Kidnapping 1st degree
(53a-92) |
One year (+) | 25 years | |
| Kidnapping 1st degree with a firearm
(53a-92a) |
One year (+) | 25 years | |
| Employing a minor in an obscene performance
(53a-196a) |
10 years | 25 years | |
| Home invasion
(PA 08-1, JSS, § 1) |
10 years (+) | 25 years | |
| Class A or B Felonies (Depending on Circumstances) | Sexual assault 1st degree
(53a-70) |
Two, five, or 10 years depending on the conduct and victim’s age * ^ + | 20 or 25 years depending on the conduct and victim’s age |
| Aggravated sexual assault 1st degree
(53a-70a) |
Five, 10, or 20 years depending on the conduct and victim’s age * ^ + | 20 or 25 years depending on the conduct and victim’s age | |
| Class B Felonies | Injury or risk of injury to a minor (involving contact with intimate parts of a minor under age 13)
(53-21)) |
Five years | 20 years |
| Manslaughter 1st degree with a firearm
(53a-55a) |
Five years (+) | 40 years | |
| Assault 1st degree
(53a-59) |
● Five years if causes injury using a deadly weapon (+)
● 10 years if the victim is under age 10 or a witness (+) |
20 years | |
| Assault 1st degree of elderly, blind, disabled, pregnant, or mentally retarded person
(53a-59a) |
Five years (+) | 20 years | |
| Enticing a minor (when minor under age 13)
(53a-90a) |
● 1st offense: five years
● Subsequent offense: 10 years |
20 years | |
| Kidnapping 2nd degree
(53a-94) |
Three years (+) | 20 years | |
| Kidnapping 2nd degree with a firearm
(53a-94a) |
Three years (+) | 20 years | |
| Burglary 1st degree (with explosive, deadly weapon, or dangerous instrument)
(53a-101) |
Five years (+) | 20 years | |
| Robbery 1st degree (with deadly weapon)
(53a-134) |
Five years (+) | 20 years | |
| Importing child pornography
(53a-196c) |
Five years | 20 years | |
| Possessing child pornography 1st degree
(53a-196d) |
Five years | 20 years | |
| Computer crime in furtherance of terrorism (when directed toward public safety agency)
(53a-301) |
Five years | 20 years |
Note: Sample data has been extracted online, courtesy of CGA.
Conclusion
A conspiracy to commit a felony results in the same amount of jail time and fines as a convicted felon. The act of agreeing to commit a crime with other people is called a conspiracy, and actually taking steps to reach toward the end goal.
Merely talking about committing a crime is baseless, unless proven otherwise. Different conspiracy charges have different punishments especially the variation of jail time of the felons and co-conspirators.
