What does entrapment refer to in legal terms?

Entrapment in legal terms specifically refers to the act of tricking or deceiving a person into committing a crime that they would not have otherwise committed, typically by law enforcement agents. This definition highlights the role of deception in inducing someone to engage in criminal activity, making it distinct from mere encouragement.

In the context of law, it is important that the defense of entrapment focuses on the individual's lack of predisposition to commit the crime in the absence of government involvement. The distinction lies in the intent and actions taken by law enforcement to lure someone into committing a crime, which encompasses the idea of trickery or deceit—this is why the selected answer is accurate.

Encouragement, while potentially persuasive in some contexts, does not fully capture the legal concept of entrapment since it may involve lawful persuasion without the element of trickery. Providing legal advice or engaging in witness tampering does not relate to the concept of entrapment in the same legal framework, as those actions involve different aspects of the legal system and do not pertain to the inducement to commit a crime.