9.86 Limitations on conviction

Here's a plain English summary of this rule:

If you're charged with a crime, the jury (or judge) doesn't have to choose between only "guilty as charged" or "not guilty." They can also find you guilty of a lesser crime that's included within the one you were charged with. For example, if you're charged with a serious assault, the jury might decide the evidence only supports a finding of guilt for a lesser form of assault instead.

The rule also allows for a finding of guilt on an attempt to commit the crime, as long as attempting that crime is actually recognized as an offense under the law. So if you were charged with committing a crime but the evidence shows you only tried and failed, you could be found guilty of the attempt instead of the completed crime.

This rule matters because it gives more options for reaching a fair outcome. It means the case doesn't automatically fail just because the evidence doesn't fully support the exact charge. At the same time, it protects defendants by making sure any lesser conviction is still tied to what they were originally charged with, not some unrelated crime.