by Zayed Al-Sayyed

Criminal DefenseAugust 12, 20210 comments

What Are the 5 Types of Crimes?

In the eyes of the law, a crime is defined as any action or omission that defies legal code and is therefore punishable by law. While there are many different types of crimes, most can be divided into the following categories: crimes against property, crimes against a person, financial crimes, statutory crimes, and inchoate crimes.

In this easy-to-read guide to the 5 types of crimes, we will break down each category to explain what they mean and identify specific examples of crimes that fall into them.

Crimes Against Property

Crimes against property involve tampering with or unlawfully taking the property of another party. While this type of crime does not always involve a threat or use of force against the victim, it often results in depriving the victim of the use of their property. Common forms of crimes against property include the following:

• Burglary
• Larceny
• Motor vehicle theft
• Shoplifting
• Vandalism

Crimes Against a Person

Also referred to as personal crimes, crimes against a person include a broad range of criminal offences that involve the threat or use of bodily harm, as well as any actions committed against the will of an individual. This category can be further split into two sub-categories: types of homicide and other violent crimes. Outside of homicide, some of the most common crimes against a person include the following:

• Stalking
• Kidnapping
• Hate crimes
• Domestic violence
• Aggravated assault

Financial Crimes

Financial crimes can generally be defined as any illegal activities that involve dishonest or fraudulent behavior for the sake of personal financial gain. Crimes in this category can be committed either by individuals or by institutions like banks and corporations. Some of the most common forms of financial crimes include the following:

• Tax evasion
• Money laundering
• Embezzlement
• Counterfeiting
• Forgery

Statutory Crimes

This is a broad category of crimes that can include both personal and property offences. By definition, statutory crimes are actions that violate specific state or federal statutes. These types of crimes are associated with specific statutes to deter the public from engaging in them. Some of the most common statutory crimes include the following:

• Public intoxication
• Driving under the influence
• Selling alcohol to minors
• Driving without a license
• Drug possession

Inchoate Crimes

Inchoate crimes involve taking a punishable step towards a crime, without actually following through with the crime. Simply feeling the desire to commit a crime does not constitute an inchoate crime. The individual or group would need to take a substantial step towards committing a crime for it to be considered an inchoate crime. Common forms of inchoate crimes include the following:

• Solicitation
• Conspiracy
• Aiding and abetting
• Facilitation
• Attempt

Criminal Defense Attorneys in Phoenix

 Regardless of which type of criminal charges you may be facing, it can be an incredibly scary situation. To ensure that you have the best possible odds at a favorable outcome, it’s essential to hire an experienced lawyer. At The Law Office of Zayed Al-Sayyed, our skilled team of Phoenix criminal defense attorneys utilize an Aggressive Compassionate Representation approach to provide our clients with the best legal support available.

Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and find out what we can do for you.