In this guide, we look at the types of criminal offenses. In particular, we look at what each criminal offense means, as well as the possible implication.
What is a Crime?
According to Merriam-Webster, a crime is “an illegal conduct for which a person may be punished by the government.”
The spectrum of criminal acts ranges from theft to murder and penalties to these offenses can range from community service to the death sentence.
Types of Criminal Offenses Explained
Although there are too many illegal activities to detail in a single blog, we can categorize them into six broad groups.
Understanding the different forms of criminal offenses can provide insight into what differentiates them and why they get different levels of punishment.
1. Crimes Against an Individual
Crime against an individual is the category of offenses with the most severe consequences.
Crimes against a person are acts that inflict another human being with bodily injury or mental pain. This category includes violent crimes including assault, battery, and domestic violence.
Homicide is also a crime against a person, and it can be receive a varying degrees of prosecution based on intent and premeditation. Both murder and manslaughter constitute criminal homicide.
Crimes committed against a person can be:
- Violence and battery
- Robbery
- Child maltreatment
- Kidnapping
- Sexual assault
- Manslaughter
- Murder
Person-directed crimes often carry the heaviest sanctions.
A person convicted of such a crime might face misdemeanor or felony charges with punishments ranging from jail time to years or even decades in prison, in addition to hefty fines.
2. Crimes Committed Against Property
Crimes against property are less severe since they do not entail injuring another person. Instead, they entail vandalism, destruction, or theft.
The following are examples of such crimes:
- Shoplifting
- Theft
- Grand larceny
- Automobile theft Arson
Property crimes are punishable according to the value of the property, the nature of the offense, and the offender’s prior criminal record, if any.
The nature of the property can also affect charges and punishments. Theft charges, for instance, are a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of $5,000 if the worth of the goods stolen was $750 or more.
3. Crime Against Morality
Sometimes referred to as victimless crimes, crimes against morality are actions committed against neither a person nor their property.
In contrast, they are violations of recognized social and moral ideals. They are illegal and, as such, punishable by fines, jail time, or other periods as specified by laws.
Examples of crimes against morality are:
- Prostitution
- Bigamy
- Illegal gambling
- Illegal drug use
- Indecent clothing
Depending on the nature of the violation, the penalty for crimes against morals can range from fines to imprisonment.
A first offense of prostitution in Florida, for instance, is punishable by up to 60 days in prison and a $500 fine. The maximum penalty for further violations is five years in jail and a $5,000 fine.
Personal heroin possession is punishable by up to five years in jail and a $5,000 fine.
4. Statutory Crimes
Technically, all criminal offenses are statutory crimes because law prohibits them all.
However, in this context, we refer to statutory crimes as activities forbidden for the protection and/or improvement of society.
This category includes drug offences, alcohol-related crimes, and traffic violations. Additionally, crimes against morals are likely to fall under the category of statutory offenses.
Example include:
- Driving under the influence
- Boating under the influence
- Drug possession, sale, or distribution
- Drug production or cultivation
- Selling alcoholic beverages to a minor
- Driving without a license
- Reckless driving
In some states in the United States of America, penalties for violations of the law are extensive. A first offense DUI, for instance, is punishable by a maximum of six months in prison and a fine between $500 and $2,000.
The production or distribution of substantial quantities of illegal substances, such as 1 kilogram of cocaine, is punishable by at least 15 years in jail and a $250,000 fine.
Penalties will vary based on the nature of the violation and any mitigating or aggravating circumstances.
5. Financial Crimes
White-collar crimes are typically pecuniary in character and take place in the corporate environment. They are peaceful but not always victimless, since they can cause considerable financial damages to individuals and corporations.
Examples include:
- Embezzlement
- Forgery
- Insider trading
- Tax evasion
- Identity fraud
- Money laundering
- Bank fraud
- Medicare fraud
Numerous white-collar offenses may be prosecuted at the state or federal level, which significantly increases the possible punishment.
For instance, bank fraud is a federal offense punishable by up to 30 years in jail and a $1 million fine.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) investigates and prosecutes tax evasion crimes, which are punishable by up to five years in jail and penalties of up to one hundred thousand dollars, in addition to any taxes owing.
Cases of this nature are frequently extremely complicated, and federal investigations may span months or even years.
6. Inchoate Crimes
The idea of being caught and punished for a crime you did not really commit may seem like something out of the movie. These include crimes that were begun but not finished, as well as acts committed during the commission of another crime.
Incomplete crimes go beyond simple intent. A person can still be prosecuted if they plan to commit a crime and then take a step toward carrying it out.
Some incipient crimes, such as attempt, integrate into the intended offense and therefore not punishable separately. Others, such as conspiracy, are distinct offenses. A person cannot be prosecuted with attempted murder and murder, but they might be charged with murder and conspiracy.
In Florida, for example, the punishments for incipient crimes vary on the intended crime and the actual offense.
The conspiracy to commit a misdemeanor is punishable by up to one year in prison and up to $1,000 in penalties. The maximum penalty for conspiracy to commit a felony is five years in jail and a $5,000 fine. The maximum sentence for conspiracy to commit a capital offence, such as first-degree murder, is 30 years in jail and a $10,000 fine.