Withdrawal as a Defense to Substantive Offenses Committed by Co-Conspirators is a legal concept that can provide an individual with a defense to charges of criminal conspiracy. This defense is based on the idea that by taking reasonable steps to withdraw from the conspiracy, a conspirator can be relieved of criminal liability for the substantive offenses committed by the other conspirators after the withdrawal. Withdrawal as a defense to substantive offenses is generally classified into two types: affirmative withdrawal and passive withdrawal. Affirmative withdrawal occurs when a conspirator takes affirmative steps to attempt to stop the commission of the substantive offense. This can include informing the other conspirators of their intention to withdraw, informing the authorities about the crime, or taking any other reasonable action to stop the crime from occurring. Passive withdrawal occurs when a conspirator does not take any affirmative steps to stop the crime, but instead simply disengages from the conspiracy. This generally requires the conspirator to have no further contact or communication with the other conspirators, and to not benefit from the commission of the substantive offense. In either case, the individual must prove that their withdrawal was timely and effective in order for the defense to be successful.