What do we call an overt act committed with the intent to commit a crime but that falls short of completing the crime?

An overt act committed with the intent to commit a crime that does not complete the crime is referred to as an attempt to commit a crime. This legal concept recognizes that not every crime needs to be completed for a person to be held accountable. The key components of this definition are the overt act and the intent. An overt act indicates that the individual has taken a step towards committing the crime, showing their intention beyond mere thought or planning.

In criminal law, the act of attempting a crime can carry penalties, reflecting the legal system’s interest in preventing harm and holding individuals accountable for dangerous intentions, even if those intentions do not result in the completion of the crime. This distinction is essential for understanding the legal principles surrounding criminal attempts and the policy rationale behind penalizing them.

The other options do not capture this specific legal concept. For instance, a lessor included offense usually refers to a lesser charge that can be included in a more serious charge. A separate offense from the intended offense indicates a different crime entirely, while the term unexecuted offense does not have legal standing in the same way as "attempt to commit a crime." Each of these options fails to convey the necessary legal understanding that "attempt" fundamentally embodies.