Legal Definitions - inchoate crime

Definition: An inchoate crime is an offense that involves planning or attempting to commit a crime, but the crime itself has not yet been completed.

Examples of inchoate crimes include:

• Attempted murder: When someone plans or tries to kill another person, but is unsuccessful in carrying out the act.
• Solicitation: When someone asks or encourages another person to commit a crime, such as asking someone to rob a bank.
• Conspiracy: When two or more people plan to commit a crime together, even if the crime is never actually carried out.

These examples illustrate the definition of inchoate crime because they all involve planning or attempting to commit a crime, but the actual crime has not yet been completed. In each case, the person involved may still be charged with a crime and face legal consequences, even if they were not successful in carrying out their plan.