Legal Definitions - included offense

An included offense is a type of crime that is similar to another crime, but less severe. It is often considered a "lesser included offense" of a more serious crime. For example, shoplifting might be an included offense of robbery. This means that if someone is charged with robbery, they might also be charged with shoplifting as a lesser offense. Other types of offenses include acquisitive offenses, which involve stealing someone else's property, and anticipatory offenses, which involve planning to commit a crime but not actually carrying it out. Some offenses are more serious than others, and the punishment for each offense is determined by law.