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 Oklahoma, criminal conspiracy is recognized as a partnership between two or more individuals who agree to commit a crime and then take steps towards achieving that criminal objective. This aligns with the broader purpose of conspiracy laws, which aim to dismantle the collaborative efforts that make criminal enterprises more formidable and to enable the prosecution of individuals involved in the planning stages of a crime, even if they do not participate in the actual commission of the crime. Under Oklahoma state law, the specific statutes addressing criminal conspiracy can be found in the Oklahoma Statutes, Title 21, which outlines various aspects of criminal law. Penalties for conspiracy in Oklahoma vary depending on the nature of the crime that the conspirators intended to commit, with the potential for fines, imprisonment, or both. This is similar to federal law, specifically 18 U.S.C. § 371, which penalizes conspiracies against the United States or to defraud the United States or its agencies, with fines and imprisonment of up to five years for those who take any act to further the conspiracy. An attorney can provide more detailed information on the potential consequences of a conspiracy charge in Oklahoma.