每日法律英语词条（2）：Accessory

每日法律英语词条

每日精选一个法律英语词条，梳理这个词条的含义和相关判例。

Accessory describes one who assists another in the commission of a crime. The word is originally derived from the Latin word accessio, meaning something that accompanies or supplements something else. 

该词描述了一个协助他人实施犯罪的人（从犯）。该词最初源自拉丁语accessio，表示与某事物相伴随或作为其补充的事物。

In Roman law,accessory came to mean a mode of acquiring additional property as an outgrowthof or addition to property already owned. This older usage stillsurvives in some contexts. For example, an accessory contractis an agreement entered into between parties to effectuate or bring about theterms of another contract that is more central to the parties’ relationship.

在罗马法中，accessory的意思是指一种在已经拥有的财产的基础上获得额外财产以作为补充的方式。这种老的用法在某些语境下仍然存在，比如，从合同是指当事人之间达成的一项协议，目的是达成另一项对当事双方关系更为重要的合同条款。

However, its primarymeaning is in the criminal law. In criminal law, the original distinction between an accessory and a principal or main actor was whether the person was present at thescene of the crime. 

然而，该词的主要含义体现在刑法领域。在刑法中，从犯和主犯的最开始的区别在于该行为人是否在犯罪现场。

The principals were present at the scene of the crime and either committed the crime themselves orassisted others to do it. The accessory, on the other hand, was not actuallypresent during the commission of the crime but assisted the principal(s)“before the fact” or “after the fact.” 

主犯在实施犯罪时在犯罪现场，亲自实施犯罪或者协助他人实施犯罪。另外，从犯在犯罪发生时并不在犯罪现场，而是事前或者事后为主犯提供帮助行为。 

For example, someone who provided the principal with a weapon or other assistancebefore the crime could be considered an accessory “before the fact,” whilesomeone assisting the principal in escaping from the authorities after the crime was committed wouldbe considered an accessory “after the fact.” 

例如，在犯罪之前向主犯提供武器（作案工具）或者提供其他帮助行为的人被称为“事前从犯”，而在犯罪之后帮助主犯逃脱（当局的）制裁的人被称为“事后从犯”。

At commonlaw, the latter crime was called“misprision of felony” but was generally limited to those who failed to disclose or actively concealed the commission of a felony.

在普通法中，后一种犯罪（“事后从犯”）被称为“包庇藏匿重罪犯的罪行”，但通常仅限于那些没有透露或积极隐瞒重罪的人。

 拓展知识：

①当前的刑法中主犯和“事前从犯”之间区别已经很小了，两者的罪责程度差异很小（same level ofculpability）。

②大多数州对于那些在在犯罪事实发生之前对犯罪并不知情，“事后”为主犯提供了帮助行为的从犯所处的罪责程度会轻一些（相比于主犯而言）。

③大多数州对从犯的认定要求其在事后有意的掩饰犯罪或者帮助主犯逃脱，仅仅“不作为”不能构成从犯。虽然根据普通法，在对主犯进行审判定罪之前不能对从犯进行定罪，但是目前大多数的州已经废除了这个规定，不管主犯是否审判和定罪，法院都可以对从犯进行审判定罪。

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