In legal terms, an attempt refers to the intent and effort to commit a crime, coupled with an overt act that falls short of completing the offense. Attempted crimes occur when an individual takes substantial steps toward the commission of a criminal act but does not succeed in carrying it out. The concept of attempt is based on the principle that criminal liability can attach to conduct that poses a significant risk of harm or violates societal norms, even if the intended crime is not completed. Attempted crimes are generally punishable under the law, although the severity of the punishment may vary depending on factors such as the seriousness of the intended offense and the degree of preparation or intent demonstrated by the perpetrator. The specific elements required to establish an attempt vary by jurisdiction and may include factors such as intent, proximity to completion, and the presence of a substantial step toward the commission of the crime.
Attempt is a legal concept that refers to the act of trying to commit a crime but failing to complete it. It is considered a separate offense from the completed crime and is punishable under the law. In order to establish an attempt, the prosecution must prove that the defendant had the specific intent to commit the crime and took substantial steps towards its completion. The specific intent element requires the defendant to have the purpose or desire to commit the crime, while the substantial steps element requires some overt act that goes beyond mere preparation. The punishment for attempt is generally less severe than that for the completed crime, but it varies depending on the jurisdiction and the nature of the offense.
v. and n. to actually try to commit a crime and have the ability to do so. This means more than just thinking about doing a criminal act or planning it without overt action. It also requires the opportunity and ability. Attempts can include attempted murder, attempted robbery, attempted rape, attempted forgery, attempted arson, and a host of other crimes. The person accused cannot attempt to commit murder with an unloaded gun or attempt rape over the telephone. The attempt becomes a crime in itself, and usually means one really tried to commit the crime, but failed through no fault of himself or herself. Example: if a husband laces his wife’s cocktail with cyanide, it is no defense that by chance the intended victim decided not to drink the deadly potion. One defendant claimed he could not attempt rape in an old Model A coupe because it was too cramped to make the act possible. The court threw out this defense. Sometimes a criminal defendant is accused of both the crime (e.g. robbery) and the attempt in case the jury felt he tried but did not succeed.
Attempt is an inchoate offence set out in section 1 of the Criminal Attempts Act 1981.
The Actus Reus of an attempt is any act that is `more than merely preparatory’ to the offence. To have the Mens Rea for an attempt, the accused must intend to bring about the consequences for the full offence. For example, to be convicted of attempted murder, the accused must have intended to kill the victim, not merely cause him grievous bodily harm, although an intent to kill can be inferred if the jury is satisfied that the accused foresaw death as a virtual certainty.
This is generally the case too if the crime that the accused set out to commit is impossible. For example, if Harry set out to kill William, but William was already dead, Harry could still be convicted of attempted murder. This is a factual impossibility. If Charles set out to break into a safe to steal its contents with a screwdriver, a method that is doomed to fail, then he should not escape conviction for attempted theft. This is impossibility through inadequacy. The only defence that may work would be if Edward believed that what he was doing was an offence when it was in fact legal. This is known as a Taafe defence, after the case R v Taafe.
This site contains general legal information but does not constitute professional legal advice for your particular situation. Persuing this glossary does not create an attorney-client or legal adviser relationship. If you have specific questions, please consult a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction.
This glossary post was last updated: 29th March, 2024.
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