The act of taking substantial steps towards committing a crime while having the ability and the intent to commit the crime, even if the crime never takes place.

The facts surrounding a criminal event that must be proved to convict the defendant of the underlying crime.

The body of circumstances that must exist for a criminal act to have occurred.

A homicide in which the offender had no intent to kill her or his victim.

Mental state, or intent. A wrongful mental state is usually as necessary as a wrongful act to establish criminal liability.

A failure to exercise the standard of care that a reasonable person would exercise in similar circumstances.

The state of being aware that a risk does or will exist and nevertheless acting in a way that consciously disregards this risk.

Certain crimes, such as traffic violations, in which the defendant is guilty regardless of her or his state of mind at the time of the act.

A homicide in which the intent to kill was present in the mind of the offender, but malice was lacking.