A corporation may be criminally responsible for the acts of an agent only if those acts are within the scope of employment.

A corporation may be criminally responsible for the acts of an agent only if those acts are within the scope of employment.

• A. False
• B. True only if the agent is a corporate officer
• C. True only if the offense is a felony
• D. True

Answer: (D)

A company can be criminally liable for what its employees do when those acts are within the scope of their employment. Under the idea of vicarious liability, the corporation bears responsibility for crimes committed by agents who are acting in the course of their job duties or to further the company's interests. The agent does not have to be a corporate officer, and the offense does not have to be a felony—the key factor is that the conduct is within the scope of employment. If the employee acts on personal whim or outside the duties of their job, the corporation typically isn’t liable for that act.

A company can be criminally liable for what its employees do when those acts are within the scope of their employment. Under the idea of vicarious liability, the corporation bears responsibility for crimes committed by agents who are acting in the course of their job duties or to further the company's interests. The agent does not have to be a corporate officer, and the offense does not have to be a felony—the key factor is that the conduct is within the scope of employment. If the employee acts on personal whim or outside the duties of their job, the corporation typically isn’t liable for that act.