Draft:Outline of crime

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to crime:

In ordinary language, a crime is an unlawful act punishable by a state or other authority. The term crime does not, in modern criminal law, have any simple and universally accepted definition, though statutory definitions have been provided for certain purposes. The most popular view is that crime is a category created by law; in other words, something is a crime if declared as such by the relevant and applicable law. One proposed definition is that a crime or offence (or criminal offence) is an act harmful not only to some individual but also to a community, society, or the state ("a public wrong"). Such acts are forbidden and punishable by law.

What type of thing is crime?

Crime can be described as all of the following:

Types of crime

Classes of crime

• Infraction
• Misdemeanor
• Felony
• Summary
• Indictable
• Hybrid

Crimes against the person

• Assault
• battery
• Extortion
• Harassment
• Kidnapping
• Identity theft
• Manslaughter
• Murder
• Rape
• Robbery
• Sexual assault

Crimes against property

• Arson
• Blackmail
• Burglary
• Deception
• Embezzlement
• False pretenses
• Fraud
• Handling
• Larceny
• Theft
• Vandalism

Crimes against public order

Public-order crime

• Drug possession
• Public order
• Breach of the peace

Crimes against the state

• Tax evasion
• Espionage
• Treason
• High treason

Crimes against justice

• Bribery
• Misprision of felony
• Obstruction
• Perjury
• Malfeasance in office

Inchoate offenses

Inchoate offense

• Accessory
• Attempt
• Conspiracy
• Incitement
• Encouraging or assisting a crime
• Solicitation
• Common purpose

History of crime

History of crime

Crime by region

• Crime in the United Arab Emirates
• Crime in the United Kingdom
• Crime in the United States