Which term refers to crimes that are planned but not completed?

The term that refers to crimes that are planned but not completed is inchoate crimes. These are offenses that involve actions taken toward committing a crime, where the criminal intent is present, but the ultimate crime has not been fully carried out. Inchoate crimes recognize that the planning and steps taken toward committing an offense are significant enough to warrant legal consequence, even if the crime itself did not occur.

For instance, if someone intends to commit a burglary and takes substantial steps to prepare for it, such as scouting the area or purchasing tools for the break-in, those actions can lead to charges of conspiracy or attempt, which fall under the category of inchoate crimes. This legal recognition helps deter individuals from engaging in criminal planning even if the act does not ultimately take place.

Other terms do not encompass this specific idea. Constitutional crimes typically deal with offenses related to violations of constitutional rights, felonies refer to serious crimes generally punishable by incarceration for more than one year, and capital crimes are those punishable by death or life imprisonment, but do not specifically address the concept of uncompleted criminal attempts.