A crime refers to any conduct subject to legal punishment as a public offence.
Introduction
The phenomenon of crime is complex and does not have simple explanations. Numerous efforts have been undertaken to establish a comprehensive definition of crime, yet they have all encountered difficulties in accurately determining the specific actions or omissions that constitute criminal behaviour.
The concept of crime is complex and encompasses a wide spectrum of human behaviour, making it inherently deceptive. Crime is often perceived by the public as including various acts such as robberies, pickpocketing, riots, murders, and theft. However, the understanding and definition of crime are subjective and influenced by factors such as public opinion, societal norms, beliefs, religion, attitudes, customs, traditions, government type, and the political and economic structures within a society.
In capitalist cultures, crimes related to property rights may be lawfully sanctioned. This raises the question of what similar crimes may be permitted in socialist economies like China and the former USSR. The legality of an act can change over time based on legislative decisions, meaning that an act considered a crime today may no longer be considered a crime in the future. Polygamy, dowry, etc., are societal practices that have undergone a significant transformation in recent years, transitioning from accepted norms to criminal offences.
Meaning of Crime
The components of a crime often originate from legislation but may also be provided by the common law in places where the criminal common law still has authority.
While many crimes require the presence of purpose, many minor offences may be committed under strict liability, regardless of the defendant’s lack of particular mental state about the illegal conduct. For example, parking tickets are often non-intentional offences that do not need prosecutors to prove intent.
Renowned jurists’ definitions of crime
According to Bentham, “offences are whatever the legislature has prohibited for good or for bad reasons.”
According to Austin, “a wrong which is pursued at the discretion of the injured party and his representatives is a civil injury; a wrong which is pursued by the sovereign or his subordinates is a crime.”
According to Paul W. Tappen, “an intentional act or omission in the violation of criminal law without justification and sanctioned by the law as a felony or misdemeanour.”
According to Blackstone, “an act committed or omitted in violation of a public law, either forbidding or commanding it.”
According to Stephen, “crime is an act forbidden by law and which is at the same time revolting against the moral sentiments of society.”
Kenny states, “Crimes are wrongs whose sanction is punitive and is in no way remissible by any private person, but is remissible by the crown alone, if remissible at law.”
According to Keeton, “a crime would seem to be any undesirable act which the state finds it most convenient to correct by the institution of proceedings for the infliction of a penalty, instead of leaving the remedy to the discretion of some injured person.”
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According to Miller, crime is “to be the commission or omission of an act which the law forbids or commands under pain of a punishment to be imposed by the state by a proceeding in its own name.”
According to Paton, “the normal marks of a crime are that the state has the power to control the procedure, to remit the penalty, or to inflict the punishment.”
Types of Crime
Drug crimes: The Drug crime category comprises a type of crime associated with the use, transportation, acquisition, and trade of illicit substances or compounds.
Organized crime: Organized crime encompasses the illicit endeavours carried out by people belonging to criminal organizations, who provide unlawful commodities and services.
Political Crimes: Political crime refers to illegal activities that are motivated by political objectives or the abuse of political power. This category includes governmental crimes and crimes committed against the government. Political goals are frequently what motivate political offenders.
White Collar Crime: White-collar crime refers to criminal activities that are often committed by individuals in professional or business settings. It is a non-violent crime. White-collar crimes are illegal activities individuals engage in while carrying out their lawful occupations and professions. White-collar criminals engage in unethical behaviour to pursue personal gain, such as embezzlement, or to advance the interests of a company, such as engaging in corporate price-fixing. The economy, employers, customers, and the environment are all affected by white-collar crime.
Digital Crime: Cybercrime is commonly defined as the commission or facilitation of unlawful activities through computers, communication devices, or computer networks. Some examples of cybercrimes are hacking, identity theft, fraud, and cyberstalking.
Street Crime: Predatory crimes such as rape, robbery, assault, burglary, larceny, and vehicle theft are most often seen on metropolitan streets.
Victimless Crime: Acts involving voluntary participation and not harming anybody else, such as using illicit narcotics, are referred to as victimless crimes.
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