The definitions for criminal attempt -- in which the defendant ultimately fails to pull off the crime -- vary from state to state. But generally, attempted offenses occur when an individual has an actual intent to commit a crime (in legal terms, specific intent), and takes direct action toward completion of the crime. Once a crime is completed, then those charges would apply and the attempt would not be charged.
Not all crimes can be "attempted," legally speaking, only those with specific intent. Specific intent refers to the state of mind in which an individual plans to commit a certain crime, knowing what the outcome may be. For instance, attempted battery is not a criminal charge because the crime of battery doesn't require a premeditated intent to cause harm. But someone who threatens bodily harm may be charged with assault.
One common example of an attempted crime would be attempted murder, where an individual must have the intent to kill another individual, then take action towards that end, but fall short of actually doing so.
As discussed above, since attempt crimes are typically incomplete (by their own nature), establishing the intent of an individual is often the key to securing a conviction. Thus, it's important to note that it would not be enough for an individual to intend only harm or even serious harm to a victim, for purposes of an attempted murder conviction.
In some jurisdictions, the actions or acts taken for an attempted crime must go beyond "mere preparation" for the offense. In these cases, the defendant will have had to actually taken material steps toward committing the murder, regardless of any premeditated plans. However, other jurisdictions permit a conviction based on a wider range of actions taken towards completing a crime, perhaps a detailed, written plan and possession of a would-be murder weapon procured specifically for that purpose.
You may be charged with attempt if you have "set the wheels in motion," so to speak, somewhere along the line between deciding to commit the crime and completing it (without actually succeeding). A crime is incomplete if the defendant either:
In order to better understand when a person may be charged with criminal attempt for a crime, it's important to outline the stages of a crime. Generally, the stages of an incomplete crime consist of the following:
This is a very general list and will vary depending on the criminal offense.
Attempt crimes, because they are incomplete, swing on some very fine distinctions. As such, there are many opportunities for a clever defense attorney to undermine the prosecution's case. In any event, defendants have the right to defend themselves against criminal charges in court. If you're facing charges, your best defense is to consult with a criminal defense lawyer.
