What is the term used when an individual commits criminal conduct due to the threat of imminent harm?

The term used when an individual commits criminal conduct due to the threat of imminent harm is duress. Duress refers to a situation where a person feels compelled to act against their will because of the immediate threat of harm to themselves or others. This defense is based on the idea that the individual had no reasonable choice but to commit the criminal act in order to avoid the threatened harm.

In legal terms, for a claim of duress to be valid, it must involve a credible threat that leads the individual to believe that harm will occur if they don’t comply with the demands or acts in question. The concept of duress can often involve situations with strong emotional stress or fear, which severely limits an individual's capacity to make a free decision.

The other options represent different legal concepts. Insanity pertains to a mental state that affects a person's ability to understand the nature of their actions, whereas coercion generally involves force or intimidation to persuade someone to act against their will but does not necessarily involve an imminent threat of harm. Compulsion often refers to being driven by an internal force or condition that compels someone to act, which may not necessarily involve an external threat. Therefore, the most accurate term for committing criminal conduct due to an imminent threat is duress.