Under which condition may a defendant be convicted of included crimes?

A defendant may be convicted of included crimes when the evidence shows that a lesser charge applies. This principle is rooted in the idea that if the facts and circumstances of a case support a lesser offense, and that offense is a legal subset of the greater charge, then a conviction for the lesser charge can be appropriate.

In many jurisdictions, the legal concept of "lesser included offenses" allows a jury to consider the evidence and determine whether the defendant committed a less severe crime than what they have been charged with. For instance, if a defendant is charged with a serious felony, but the evidence suggests that the actions carried out align more closely with a misdemeanor, a conviction can be made for that lesser included offense based on the presented evidence.

This understanding encourages fair outcomes based on the truth of the evidence rather than strictly adhering to the initial charges if the evidence supports a different, less severe conclusion. Consequently, it allows the judicial system to respond more accurately to the merits of the case.