attempt to attempt
attempt to attempt. A first step made toward a criminal attempt of some sort, such as a failed effort to mail someone a note inciting that person to engage in criminal conduct. • As a general rule, courts do not recognize an attempt to commit a crime that is itself an attempt. But some jurisdictions recognize this offense, esp. when the attempted crime is defined to be an independent substantive crime. For example, some jurisdictions recognize an attempted assault if assault is defined as placing a person in apprehension of bodily injury (as opposed to being defined merely as an attempted battery). In this situation, courts have been willing to punish conduct that falls short of the attempted crime but constitutes more than mere preparation to commit it. See attempted assault under ASSAULT.
