Accessory after the fact is a legal term used to describe someone who aids, abets, or assists another person who has already committed a crime. It is a form of criminal liability that applies when an individual helps a criminal evade punishment after a crime has been committed. There are two types of accessory after the fact: an accessory before the fact, who assists in the planning or preparation of a crime, and an accessory after the fact, who assists the criminal after the crime has been committed. An accessory after the fact can be charged with the same crime as the principal offender, depending on the jurisdiction. In some states, an accessory after the fact may be charged with a lesser offense, such as obstruction of justice.