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 Vermont, as in other states and under federal law, criminal conspiracy is recognized as a distinct offense. A criminal conspiracy occurs when two or more individuals agree to commit a crime and take some action toward its completion. This does not require that the crime be successfully carried out, only that there is an agreement and some step taken in furtherance of the conspiracy. Vermont's statutes criminalize such agreements under its penal code, reflecting the dual purposes of conspiracy laws: to dismantle the collaborative efforts to commit crimes and to hold accountable those who contribute to the planning and preparation of criminal acts, even if they do not participate in the execution of the crime itself. The specific penalties for conspiracy in Vermont will depend on the nature of the crime that was the object of the conspiracy, but they can be severe, including fines and imprisonment. This is in line with federal law, particularly 18 U.S.C. § 371, which allows for fines and up to five years' imprisonment for conspiring to commit any offense against the United States or to defraud the United States or any agency thereof.