A criminal conspiracy is generally a partnership formed to commit a crime or crimes. A criminal conspiracy exists when two or more persons form an agreement to violate a law that includes criminal penalties, and then take one or more steps designed to accomplish the goal of the conspiracy.

Federal and state statutes make criminal conspiracies illegal for two primary purposes: (1) to help combat the powerful forces created when two or more people collaborate to commit a crime; and (2) to allow criminal prosecutors (state and federal) to prosecute persons who play a role in planning a crime but who are not involved in the physical acts taken to complete the underlying crime.

For example, under federal law, if two or more persons conspire either to commit any offense against the United States, or to defraud the United States, or any agency of the United States in any manner or for any purpose, and one or more of such persons do any act to accomplish the objective of the conspiracy, each of the conspirators may be fined under and imprisoned for up to five years. See 18 U.S.C. §371. And most states have statutes (usually located in the penal or criminal code) that make criminal conspiracies a crime and include significant punishment upon conviction.

In Alaska, criminal conspiracy is defined under Alaska Statutes § 11.31.120 - § 11.31.140. A person commits the crime of conspiracy when they agree with one or more persons to commit a crime and an overt act is performed in pursuance of that agreement. The state of Alaska recognizes the seriousness of collaborative efforts to commit crimes and provides legal mechanisms to prosecute those involved in the planning stages of criminal activity, even if they do not participate in the actual commission of the crime. The penalties for conspiracy in Alaska vary depending on the nature of the crime that was the object of the conspiracy, with more serious underlying crimes leading to harsher penalties. For example, conspiracy to commit a felony is generally charged in the same degree as the most serious offense that is an object of the conspiracy. This aligns with the federal approach under 18 U.S.C. § 371, which allows for the prosecution of individuals involved in conspiracies against the United States or to defraud the United States, with penalties including fines and imprisonment for up to five years upon conviction.