What are the two main categories of crime?


Editorial team Published on

While criminal law divides offenses into several functional groups, the two fundamental traditional categories based on the nature of the injury are crimes against a person and crimes against property.

1. Crimes Against a Person

These offenses involve intentional physical harm, the threat of violence, or bodily injury directed at another human being. They carry the most severe legal penalties.

  • Examples: Homicide (murder and manslaughter), assault, battery, rape, kidnapping, and domestic abuse.

2. Crimes Against Property

These offenses involve the theft, destruction, or interference with the use and enjoyment of someone else's property, without the primary intent to cause physical bodily harm.

  • Examples: Burglary, larceny, theft, robbery, arson, and vandalism.

Beyond these two basic divisions, legal systems and criminologists also classify offenses into broader structures like:

  • Inchoate Crimes: Incomplete or attempted crimes (such as conspiracy or aiding and abetting).
  • Statutory/Public Order Crimes: Actions prohibited by specific laws (like DUI or drug possession).
  • White-Collar/Financial Crimes: Financially motivated, nonviolent deceptions (like fraud or embezzlement).
  • Grading by Severity: Categorized legally as felonies, misdemeanors, or infractions.

You can read more detailed definitions of specific offenses through the Justia Criminal Law Center.