What is the 'affirmative defense' in criminal law?

An 'affirmative defense' in criminal law is a legal strategy where the defendant acknowledges having committed the act in question but asserts that they had a valid legal justification for their actions. This means that rather than claiming innocence or denying any wrongdoing, the defendant provides evidence or arguments that, even with the act admitted, their behavior was justified under the law.

Some common examples of affirmative defenses include self-defense, insanity, and consent. In these cases, the defendant's goal is to show that their actions should not be considered criminal despite the fact that they did participate in the conduct. This approach recognizes that there may be circumstances under which the law allows a person to engage in actions that would typically be deemed illegal.

Other options do not appropriately describe the nature of an affirmative defense. For instance, defenses limited to civil cases or strategies focusing solely on denying wrongdoing lack the nuanced approach that characterizes an affirmative defense. Similarly, appealing for leniency based on personal circumstances does not address the legal justification required for an affirmative defense.