Criminology and the Legal classifications of crime

The legal classifications of crimes vary from nation to nation, society to society, as does the definition of crime. Even with a legal system, crimes may be classified in different ways. However, this unit focuses on three main categories of crimes; namely:

1.     Crimes against a person

2.     Crimes against property

3.     Crimes against public order

4.     Miscellaneous crimes

The crimes against a person include such deviant acts as murder, assault, and rape. The crimes against property are forgery, burglary, Arson, vandalism and violent stealing. Drug addicts and narcotics are interpreted as crime against the public order. Crimes may also be divided into two large groups based on the severity of the punishment meted out, i.e. (1) felony and (2) misdemeanour. At other times, writers adopt a three fold classification into felony, misdemeanour and simple offences.

(1)  A felony is a crime that may be punishable by death or imprisonment for three years or more. Examples of Felony are Treason, murder.  

(2)  A misdemeanour is any crime punishable with imprisonment for less than three years but more than six months Example is cheating. A simple offence attracts imprisonment for six months or less, e.g. common assault

REFERENCES

Carrabine, Eamonn, et al (2004). Criminology: A Sociological Introduction.

London: Routledge.

Ferdinand, Theodore N. (1966). Typologies of Delinquency: A Critical Analysis.

New York: Random House.

McGuire, Mike, et al, eds. (2002). The Oxford Handbook of Criminology. 3rd edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Neubeck, Kenneth J. and Davita S. Glasberg (2005). Sociology: Diversity,  Conflict, and Change. Boston: McGraw-Hill.

Williams, Hall J. E. (1984). Criminology and Criminal Justice. London: Butterworths.

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