Which of the following represents a common type of criminal defense?

The choice indicating justification of actions based on urgent circumstances exemplifies a well-established type of criminal defense known as necessity or justification defense. This legal principle allows a defendant to argue that their illegal action was taken to prevent a greater harm from occurring. In such cases, the focus is on the circumstances that compelled the individual to act, where the defendant must demonstrate that there was an imminent threat and that their response was reasonable under the circumstances.

This type of defense is grounded in the idea that sometimes individuals may face situations where the law does not adequately account for moral choices made in urgent circumstances. For instance, if someone breaks into a building to escape a wild animal, they may present a necessity defense, arguing that their actions were justified given the immediate threat to their safety.

The other options do not adequately represent common types of criminal defenses. For example, denying charges based solely on hearsay does not constitute a recognized legal defense. Moreover, a plea deal in exchange for testimony, while a common procedural aspect in the criminal justice system, does not serve as a defense against the charges themselves. Similarly, public perception of the crime does not provide a legal basis for defense, as it focuses on societal views rather than the legal arguments or justifications available in a court trial