A criminal charge of aiding and abetting is known as an accomplice crime, and may be brought against anyone who helps with the commission of a crime. Aiding and abetting charges vary from state to state (and under federal law), but generally require that the defendant knowingly and intentionally aided and abetted the principal(s) in each essential element of the underlying crime. A person charged with aiding and abetting is often not present when the underlying crime is committed, but has knowledge of the crime before the crime is committed, and assists with the commission of the crime by providing information, action, or financial support. If the person aiding and abetting has a sufficient degree of involvement in the crime, the participation may rise to the level of being a conspiracy to commit the underlying crime.

In Rhode Island, aiding and abetting is addressed under the state's criminal laws. A person can be charged with aiding and abetting if they intentionally help in the commission of a crime, even if they are not present at the scene. Rhode Island law requires that the individual charged with aiding and abetting had knowledge of the crime and provided some form of assistance, whether it be through action, information, or financial support. The level of involvement must be significant enough to establish that the individual was a participant in the crime. If the participation is substantial, it could also be considered a conspiracy to commit the crime. The penalties for aiding and abetting will typically correspond to the severity of the underlying crime that was committed.