What do the terms conspiracy, attempt, and solicitation refer to?

The terms conspiracy, attempt, and solicitation are all classified as inchoate crimes. Inchoate crimes are offenses that were begun but not completed; they involve actions designed to lead to a crime that either hasn't happened yet or isn't fully realized.

For example, conspiracy refers to an agreement between two or more people to commit an unlawful act, while attempt involves taking substantial steps towards committing that act but not completing it. Solicitation occurs when one person encourages or seeks to induce another person to commit a crime. These definitions highlight that inchoate crimes are concerned with criminal intent and actions taken towards the commission of a crime, rather than the completion of the crime itself.

Understanding these concepts is important because they reflect the legal system’s recognition of the dangers posed by those who plan, prepare for, or solicit criminal acts, even if those acts are not carried out to completion.