ABA Family Legal Guide

Criminal Justice

The Police and Your Rights

Criminal Charges

What does it mean if I have been charged with an "attempt"?

An attempt means that you had the intent to commit the crime, you took some step toward committing the crime, but for some reason you did not complete it. Suppose you went into a bank and demanded money from a teller at gunpoint. Then an alarm rang, so you ran out of the bank before you could get the money. The prosecutor probably would bring charges of attempted robbery. Conviction for an attempted crime usually carries a sentence somewhat less than for the crime, although in some states the sentence is identical.