# 18 Pa.C.S. § 901: Criminal attempt

> Pennsylvania · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C9_S901

## Section

- **Citation:** 18 Pa.C.S. § 901
- **Heading:** Criminal attempt
- **Jurisdiction:** Pennsylvania
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** PA Code / Title 18 / Chapter 9 / Section 901

## Text

(a) Definition of attempt.--A person commits an attempt when, with intent to commit a specific crime, he does any act which constitutes a substantial step toward the commission of that crime.

(b) Impossibility.--It shall not be 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 crime attempted.

(c) Renunciation.--

(1) In any prosecution for an attempt to commit a crime, it is a defense that, under circumstances manifesting a voluntary and complete renunciation of his criminal intent, the defendant avoided the commission of the crime attempted

by abandoning his criminal effort and, if the mere abandonment was insufficient to accomplish such avoidance, by taking further and affirmative steps which prevented the commission thereof.

(2) A renunciation is not "voluntary and complete" within the meaning of this subsection if it is motivated in whole or part by:

(i) a belief that circumstances exist which increase the probability of detection or apprehension of the defendant or another participant in the criminal enterprise, or which render more difficult the accomplishment of the criminal purpose; or

(ii) a decision to postpone the criminal conduct until another time or to transfer the criminal effort to another victim or another but similar objective. Cross References. Section 901 is referred to in section 5702 of this title; sections 5552, 6302 of Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure).

## Nearby sections

- [18 Pa.C.S. § 9 Application of law.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C9_S9.md)
- [18 Pa.C.S. § 901 Criminal attempt.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C9_S901.md)
- [18 Pa.C.S. § 902 Criminal solicitation.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C9_S902.md)
- [18 Pa.C.S. § 903 Criminal conspiracy.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C9_S903.md)
- [18 Pa.C.S. § 904 Incapacity, irresponsibility or immunity of party to solicitation or conspiracy.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C9_S904.md)
- [18 Pa.C.S. § 905 Grading of criminal attempt, solicitation and conspiracy.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C9_S905.md)
- [18 Pa.C.S. § 906 Multiple convictions of inchoate crimes barred.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C9_S906.md)
- [18 Pa.C.S. § 907 Possessing instruments of crime.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C9_S907.md)
- [18 Pa.C.S. § 908 Prohibited offensive weapons.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C9_S908.md)
- [18 Pa.C.S. § 908.1 Use or possession of electric or electronic incapacitation device.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C9_S908.1.md)
- [18 Pa.C.S. § 909 Manufacture, distribution or possession of master keys for motor vehicles.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C9_S909.md)
- [18 Pa.C.S. § 910 Manufacture, distribution, use or possession of devices for theft of telecommunications services.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C9_S910.md)
- [18 Pa.C.S. § 911 Corrupt organizations.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C9_S911.md)
- [18 Pa.C.S. § 912 Possession of weapon on school property.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C9_S912.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C9_S901. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.