Colorado statute

C.R.S. § 18-2-101 — Criminal attempt.

Current through 2025 Regular Session

Part of Part 1: ATTEMPTS, Colorado Revised Statutes.

Criminal charges under this statute

Criminal attempt

Full text of C.R.S. § 18-2-101

Statutory text current through the 2025 Regular Session. This is an officially sanctioned publication using the official text of the Colorado Revised Statutes; it is not the official statutes of the State of Colorado.

C.R.S. § 18-2-101Primary source, current through the 2025 Regular Session

(1) A person commits criminal attempt if, acting with the kind of culpability otherwise required for commission of an offense, he engages in conduct constituting a substantial step toward the commission of the offense. A substantial step is any conduct, whether act, omission, or possession, which is strongly corroborative of the firmness of the actor's purpose to complete the commission of the offense. Factual or legal impossibility of committing the offense is not a defense if the offense could have been committed had the attendant circumstances been as the actor believed them to be, nor is it a defense that the crime attempted was actually perpetrated by the accused. (2) A person who engages in conduct intending to aid another to commit an offense commits criminal attempt if the conduct would establish his complicity under section 18-1-603 were the offense committed by the other person, even if the other is not guilty of committing or attempting the offense. (3) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under this section that the defendant abandoned his effort to commit the crime or otherwise prevented its commission, under circumstances manifesting the complete and voluntary renunciation of his criminal intent. (3.5) Criminal attempt to commit any crime for which a court is required to sentence a defendant for a crime of violence in accordance with section 18-1.3-406 is itself a crime of violence for the purposes of that section. (4) Criminal attempt to commit a class 1 felony is a class 2 felony; criminal attempt to commit a class 2 felony is a class 3 felony; criminal attempt to commit a class 3 felony is a class 4 felony; criminal attempt to commit a class 4 felony is a class 5 felony; criminal attempt to commit a class 5 or 6 felony is a class 6 felony. (5) Criminal attempt to commit a felony which is defined by any statute other than one contained in this title and for which no penalty is specifically provided is a class 6 felony. (6) Criminal attempt to commit a class 1 misdemeanor or class 2 misdemeanor is a class 2 misdemeanor. (7) Repealed. (8) Criminal attempt to commit a petty offense is a crime of the same class as the offense itself. (9) The provisions of subsections (4) to (8) of this section shall not apply to a person who commits criminal attempt to escape. A person who commits criminal attempt to escape shall be punished as provided in section 18-8-208.1. (10) (a) Except as otherwise provided by law, criminal attempt to commit a level 1 drug felony is a level 2 drug felony; criminal attempt to commit a level 2 drug felony is a level 3 drug felony; criminal attempt to commit a level 3 drug felony is a level 4 drug felony; and criminal attempt to commit a level 4 drug felony is a level 4 drug felony. (b) Except as otherwise provided by law, criminal attempt to commit a level 1 drug misdemeanor is a level 2 drug misdemeanor; and criminal attempt to commit a level 2 drug misdemeanor is a level 2 drug misdemeanor.

Official sources

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

Is criminal attempt a felony or a misdemeanor in Colorado?

It depends on the circumstances: criminal attempt ranges from a petty offense to a class 2 felony in Colorado under C.R.S. § 18-2-101.

Attempt to commit class 1 felony: class 2 felony (C.R.S. § 18-2-101(4)) · Attempt to commit class 2 felony: class 3 felony (C.R.S. § 18-2-101(4)) · Attempt to commit class 3 felony: class 4 felony (C.R.S. § 18-2-101(4)) · Attempt to commit class 4 felony: class 5 felony (C.R.S. § 18-2-101(4)) · Attempt to commit class 5 or 6 felony: class 6 felony (C.R.S. § 18-2-101(4)) · Attempt to commit non-title felony with no specified penalty: class 6 felony (C.R.S. § 18-2-101(5)) · Attempt to commit class 1 or class 2 misdemeanor: class 2 misdemeanor (C.R.S. § 18-2-101(6)) · Attempt to commit petty offense: petty offense (C.R.S. § 18-2-101(8)) · Attempt to commit level 1 drug felony: level 2 drug felony (C.R.S. § 18-2-101(10)(a)) · Attempt to commit level 2 drug felony: level 3 drug felony (C.R.S. § 18-2-101(10)(a)) · Attempt to commit level 3 drug felony: level 4 drug felony (C.R.S. § 18-2-101(10)(a)) · Attempt to commit level 4 drug felony: level 4 drug felony (C.R.S. § 18-2-101(10)(a)) · Attempt to commit level 1 drug misdemeanor: level 2 drug misdemeanor (C.R.S. § 18-2-101(10)(b)) · Attempt to commit level 2 drug misdemeanor: level 2 drug misdemeanor (C.R.S. § 18-2-101(10)(b))

Which Colorado statute covers criminal attempt?

Criminal attempt is governed by C.R.S. § 18-2-101 (Criminal attempt).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.