What must be present to establish a conspiracy charge?

To establish a conspiracy charge, it is necessary to demonstrate that there has been an overt act in furtherance of the conspiracy. This means that at least one of the conspirators must have taken a tangible step towards achieving the objectives of the conspiracy. The overt act serves as evidence of the conspiracy itself, showing that the agreement is not merely theoretical but that the conspirators have begun to execute their plan.

In legal terms, a conspiracy does not require successful completion of the crime that is the subject of the conspiracy; rather, the act taken need only show that there is a commitment to the conspiracy. This requirement helps ensure that a mere agreement or unexecuted plan does not lead to conspiracy charges without any action taken toward enacting the agreement.

In contrast, the other options do not capture the essential legal element needed to prove a conspiracy. Multiple defendants working independently do not establish a conspiracy unless those defendants are working in concert towards a common criminal goal. A signed contract or formal registration of agreement is also not necessary or sufficient for conspiracy; informal, even verbal agreements can lead to conspiracy charges if there is an overt act taken. Thus, the presence of an overt act is crucial in substantiating a conspiracy charge.