The main difference is that duress means that the defendant committed a crime because someone directly forced them to do it. Necessity involves a choice between two bad alternatives that could not be avoided, which arose from the circumstances rather than the actions of a specific person.

When you are forced to commit a crime?

Generally, if someone is being threatened or forced to commit a crime, they would be expected to report it to the police. That's true even if reporting the crime would have dire consequences, such as the loss of a job. There are some defenses where a person is basically forgiven for committing a crime.

What happens if you are blackmailed to do a crime?

Unlike some other states, in California, blackmail and extortion are classified as felonies and carry a penalty of up to four years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. ... Attempted blackmail can be classified as either a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the severity of the crime.