how come the punishment for an attempted crime is less than the crime itself?
477708
Because the harm from an attempted crime is less than for an actual crime. Also, it is not usually the case that someone tries to shoot someone and misses, but that they shoot someone and the person does not die. If that person meant to kill the other person, they should get a harsher punishment than they would for simply shooting someone.
109629
That all depends on the crime. Some crimes, such as murder, have no statute of limitation, so they can charge someone until they die. Other, lesser crimes are limited, and it depends greatly on the offense.
372793
Yeah, they can pretty much do what ever they want. Right now my brother is sitting in jail because an officer said he kicked a car door into his leg. This is considered assault on an officer, and that is a felony. If he is convicted he could serve 2 to 10 years. It sucks because we can't do anything about it, and it is all because this officer wants to lie.
298444
People get locked up for both.  There are more "small things" committed than "bigger things."  That is to say, that more purse snatchings are committed than murders or child molestations.  So when 20% (for example) of all purse snatchers are locked up, and 99% (for example) of all murderers are locked up, the smaller percentage is actually a larger number, yet it *appears* that the more serious offenders are treated more leniently.  In reality, however, this is not the case.\n\nAnd of course the media reports only the more serious cases.  The media doesn't talk about the 99% of all murders and child molesters that *are* imprisoned.  They only make an issue out of the 1% who aren't.  That exacerbates the misperception.\n\nAlso, to craphiststudent:  don't believe what you see on CSI.  It's fiction, not real life.  \n\nThere is no statute of limitations for murder.  And the statutes of limitations for more serious offenses are longer than those for less serious offenses.
41734
I have gone both ways on different occasions, but I think I am ultimately against it.  I don't think it is a deterrent, like if a person has the mindset necessary for committing murder, they aren't thinking of the consequences and will commit murder anyway.  Also, many people get wrongly convicted and I shudder to think how many of them were sentenced to death.
783960
The following occurs a bit more frequently. A defendant is arrested for a crime, and doesn't make bail. While awaiting trial, the defendant serves more time than is possible as a maximum sentence for the offense charged.
390201
To one degree or another, all criminal laws are ineffective, because we have to try to achieve the conflicting aims of controlling the undesired behavior while minimizing the impact on the rest of society, including the conviction of innocent people.  Where there is a law that seems to be particularly ineffective, it is usually either because it is not a very popular law to begin with, or because the subject matter of the law makes it difficult to catch all the bad guys in the law’s net without catching too many innocent people.  That’s not a direct answer to your question, but maybe it helps to explain why the problem exists in the first place.
854988
If the tragedy/pain was caused by the malicious action of another than that person should be made to pay some sort of restitution.  Many malicious acts don't actually rise to the level of a criminal act.  In these instances the only redress the victim has is to sue under civil tort law to punish the offender.
452768
It is against the law in the US to "attempt" suicide...but how can the actual act be a crime? You can't convict a corpse...
985902
I was jailed for 10 months for assisting an offender and perverting the course of justice. I lied to the police about the whereabouts of my then boyfriend who was wanted by the police. My boyfriend had stabbed somebody that beat up his sister badly and i covered up for him. I thought my sentence was pretty harsh and still do as hit and run drivers get a fine and 3 points even if the victim dies.I wasn't a danger to or harmed anyone.
786091
By american law, you can not be charged with the same crime for the same incident. On a seperate occasion, yes. Also, there are other charges they can charge you with later for the same crime.
799066
The penal code establishes the punishment for burglary, and generally includes a low term, mid-term or high term.  The judge picks which sentence to impose at sentencing based on the presence/absence of mitigating and aggravating factors.  This applies to any adult convicted of burglary. So a person does not get a longer sentence just because he/she is younger. However, age of the person can be a mitigating factor that could result in getting the lower term.  The only time where you would really see a longer sentence due to age is when a young person is given a life term.  Burglary, generally speaking, is not a life in prison case.  Beware of 3 strikes laws though.
1017401
If you think you get a bad deal, feel free to commit a crime and spend your time in prison, clothed, fed, doctored (poorly), confined, censored, beaten, extorted and raped.\n\nOr try this answer:  you ask why does the US Government have to follow the law, and isn't free to do whatever it wants, to criminals? Maybe because if it doesn't have to follow the law, it doesn't have to when it deals with those who aren't criminals either.
736732
This offence carries a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment, so that people usually actually serve about 7 years.  I don't know if you consider that lenient, but the rationale would be that the *intent* was not to kill - same rationale behind the penalty for manslaughter being less than that for murder.\n\nThe Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) may be inclined to agree with you, as it issued a statement in January of this year recommending that CPS lawyers should "take a tougher line" on those who kill in this manner (see sources).
963946
You can not be sent to jail after a suicide attempt.  That is what is meant by it is not an imprison-able or capital offense.  It is not an offense at all.  People who have attempted suicide are often taken to a hospital.  When they are stable, depending on their state of being are either released or taken to a treatment facility.  Attempted suicide is a person's desperate cry for help.  It does not mean they have a pathetic life, it means they have severe depression and need professional help to overcome the despair and sadness in their life.  People who love people who have committed suicide or attempted suicide will disagree with you that no one cares for a person who attempts suicide.  I have a nephew who has attempted suicide twice.  He is under a doctor's care, but struggles with many issues including depression.  Trust us, none of us wants him to take his own life.
1108677
I believe it seriously depends on the severity of the crime and who/what was involved. Being in good standing order before the crime also helps. It sounds like you're doing something for your community- but helping a bit more couldn't hurt. Perhaps you could speak with a lawyer or a government official.
597760
The answer is yes.  To commit a crime, two separate elements must be met.  First, the actus reus - or act.  You must do something that is prohibited.  Damaging someone's property is illegal (if nothing else it is a trespass).  Second, is the mens rea, or the guilty mind.  Every crime carries with it a different level of intent needed in order to be guilty.  For example for capital murder, the level of intent required is very high.  The murderer must have premeditated the crime and intended to cause the death of his victim.  For damaging someone's property, it is likely enough that you were simply negligent.  Anything more, such as intentionally damaging the property would also suffice.  So from your example, and assuming in the hypothetical that you intended, or at least were negligent in causing the damage then you have committed a crime.  It is absolutely irrevelevant whether anyone saw you do it.  Of course if there is no proof, then it's difficult to convict you - but that's not the question.  Did you commit a crime?  Absolutely.