(a) Elements of the offense.
     A person commits the offense of attempt when, with intent to commit a specific offense, he or she does any act that constitutes a substantial step toward the commission of that offense.

Attorney's Note

Under the Illinois Statutes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
First-degree murder20 years to lifeup to $25,000
Class 1 felonybetween 4 and 15 yearsup to $25,000
Class 2 felonybetween 3 and 7 yearsup to $25,000
Class 3 felonybetween 2 and 5 yearsup to $25,000
Class A misdemeanorup to 1 yearup to $2,500
For details, see § Ill. Comp. Stat. 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-20, § Ill. Comp. Stat. 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-30, § Ill. Comp. Stat. 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-35, § Ill. Comp. Stat. 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-40 and § Ill. Comp. Stat. 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-55

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Terms Used In Illinois Compiled Statutes 720 ILCS 5/8-4

  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • individual: shall include every infant member of the species homo sapiens who is born alive at any stage of development. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.36

     (b) Impossibility.
     It is not a defense to a charge of attempt that because of a misapprehension of the circumstances it would have been impossible for the accused to commit the offense attempted.
     (c) Sentence.
     A person convicted of attempt may be fined or imprisoned or both not to exceed the maximum provided for the offense attempted but, except for an attempt to commit the offense defined in Section 33A-2 of this Code:
         (1) the sentence for attempt to commit first degree
    
murder is the sentence for a Class X felony, except that
            (A) an attempt to commit first degree murder when
        
at least one of the aggravating factors specified in clauses (iii), (iv), and (v) of subsection (a)(1)(c) of § 5-8-1 of the Unified Code of Corrections is present is a Class X felony for which the sentence shall be a term of imprisonment of not less than 20 years and not more than 80 years;
            (B) an attempt to commit first degree murder
        
while armed with a firearm is a Class X felony for which 15 years shall be added to the term of imprisonment imposed by the court;
            (C) an attempt to commit first degree murder
        
during which the person personally discharged a firearm is a Class X felony for which 20 years shall be added to the term of imprisonment imposed by the court;
            (D) an attempt to commit first degree murder
        
during which the person personally discharged a firearm that proximately caused great bodily harm, permanent disability, permanent disfigurement, or death to another person is a Class X felony for which 25 years or up to a term of natural life shall be added to the term of imprisonment imposed by the court; and
            (E) if the defendant proves by a preponderance of
        
the evidence at sentencing that, at the time of the attempted murder, he or she was acting under a sudden and intense passion resulting from serious provocation by the individual whom the defendant endeavored to kill, or another, and, had the individual the defendant endeavored to kill died, the defendant would have negligently or accidentally caused that death, then the sentence for the attempted murder is the sentence for a Class 1 felony;
        (2) the sentence for attempt to commit a Class X
    
felony is the sentence for a Class 1 felony;
        (3) the sentence for attempt to commit a Class 1
    
felony is the sentence for a Class 2 felony;
        (4) the sentence for attempt to commit a Class 2
    
felony is the sentence for a Class 3 felony; and
        (5) the sentence for attempt to commit any felony
    
other than those specified in items (1), (2), (3), and (4) of this subsection (c) is the sentence for a Class A misdemeanor.