An inchoate offense is defined as what?

An inchoate offense refers specifically to a crime that is not fully completed but demonstrates a clear intention to commit a crime. The term encompasses both attempts and conspiracies. More specifically, in this context, an attempt would be classified as an inchoate offense.

An attempt occurs when an individual takes significant steps toward committing a crime but ultimately fails to complete it. This illustrates the principle that the intention to commit a crime, coupled with an overt act, constitutes a criminal offense even if the crime itself does not come to fruition. Therefore, the definition accurately captures the essence of an inchoate offense as it focuses on actions that reflect the intent to commit a crime, aligning with the legal understanding of attempts.

The other options, while related, do not encapsulate the broader definition of an inchoate offense in the same way. For instance, a conspiracy specifically involves an agreement between two or more people to commit a crime, while a lesser offense refers to crimes that carry lighter penalties or charges compared to more serious crimes. A crime that was not completed does capture part of the inchoate concept but lacks the specificity of "attempt" as it doesn't necessarily imply intent and action towards completing the crime.