Suburban Law Enforcement Academy (SLEA) BA State Certification Practice Exam

What is an incohate offense?

1. A fully completed crime

2. A crime attempted but not completed

3. A crime with a definitive victim

4. A non-legal term

The correct answer is: A crime attempted but not completed

An incohate offense refers to criminal acts that are incomplete but still represent a step towards committing a full crime. It reflects situations where intent to commit a crime is present, along with an effort to carry it out, but ultimately there is a failure to complete the crime. This could include actions such as attempted robbery, where the perpetrator may have taken substantial steps towards the crime but did not succeed in executing it fully. This understanding of incohate offenses is crucial in law enforcement as it allows officers to recognize that even though a crime may not have been fully realized, the intent and actions related to that crime are still subject to legal consequences. This classification is important not only for determining charges but also for understanding the nature of the criminal behaviors being addressed. While the idea of a fully completed crime reflects the resolution of criminal intent and action, incohate offenses focus instead on the potentiality of criminal action that could have occurred, emphasizing the legal system's interest in intervening before a crime is fully perpetrated.