What situation might justify a claim of necessity as a defense?

A claim of necessity as a defense is justified when an individual commits an act in order to prevent imminent danger to themselves or others. This defense is rooted in the idea that the harm caused by the crime is outweighed by the value of preventing a greater harm. For example, if a person breaks into a cabin during a snowstorm to seek shelter and protect themselves from hypothermia and death, this might be seen as a necessary action to avoid the more significant harm of losing their life.

This principle emphasizes the immediacy of the threat and that the individual believes the action taken is the only option to avert that danger. It operates under the legal acknowledgment that human life and safety take precedence over the legality of the actions committed under such circumstances.

In contrast, other situations like committing a crime for financial gain, acting under extreme emotional distress, or submitting false evidence to protect someone else do not typically provide a solid foundation for a necessity defense. These scenarios do not involve an imminent threat that justifies the unlawful action; rather, they are based on personal motives or reactions that lack the urgency and dire context required for a necessity claim.