Joint enterprise is a concept in criminal law that outlines the liability of each person involved in a crime for the acts carried out by the other persons involved. It is based on the theory that people who work together in a common purpose can be held equally responsible for any action taken in furtherance of that purpose.
In criminal law, joint enterprise holds that a person can be found guilty of a crime if they have acted in concert with others to facilitate the criminal act, even if they did not actually carry out the act themselves. To put it another way, joint enterprise says that if a person foresees the action of another person in furtherance of a criminal act and facilitates it in any way then they can be held accountable. This could include supplying the means to commit the crime, or aiding or abetting in the crime.
For example, if someone was involved in organizing a robbery but did not directly participate, they might still be found guilty of robbery under the doctrine of joint enterprise. Similarly, any individuals who plan to offer support for the robbery, such as providing a vehicle or airing a getaway route, can be held accountable for the crime.
This concept is important in understanding criminal law and has been supported by various high court cases. Business professionals should be aware of the implications of joint enterprise, as the same concept can often be applied in other areas of the law, such as civil liability, contract disputes, and negligence-based claims.