Types of Crime

Introduction

There are five main categories of crime:– Crimes Against Persons– Crimes Against Property– Crimes Against Morality– White Collar Crimes– Organized Crime

Crimes Against Persons

Also known as “violent crimes” There are 5 major types that the FBI measures:

– BatteryBattery: Unlawful application of force on another person

– HomicideHomicide: The killing of one human being by another.

– Hate CrimesHate Crimes: Can be defined as an offense motivated by hatred against a victim because of his or her race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, handicap, or national origin.

– RapeRape: Unlawful sexual intercourse without victim’s consent with the intent to rape.

Crimes Against Persons Con.’t

AssaultAssault is he fifth type of crime against persons. Two different types of assault (Territo 2004):

– Attempted BatteryAttempted Battery: Engagement in conduct that comes reasonable close to committing a battery, having the present ability to succeed in committing the battery, and intending to commit the battery.

– Intentionally Placing Another in FearIntentionally Placing Another in Fear: The placing of another person in fear that he or she will receive an immediate battery; the victim must be in fact apprehensive; the conduct must be sufficient so as to create apprehension in a reasonable person; and the defendant had the intent to create that apprehension.

Types of homicide

11stst degree murder degree murder- premeditated (planned) taking of a life with malice (ill will or hatred)

22ndnd degree murder degree murder- deliberate taking of another life with malice, but without premeditation

Felony murderFelony murder- killing that occurs while committing another felony, even if unintentional

voluntary manslaughtervoluntary manslaughter- intentional killing that results from a loss of self control caused by victim

involuntary manslaughterinvoluntary manslaughter- unintentional killing resulting from reckless actions

Noncriminal homicide

Any killing that is justifiable- the killer is deemed to be not at fault from standpoint of no crime

Soldier killing enemy in wartime Police officer kills a suspect who attacks him/her Stand-your-ground or castle laws- allow use of

deadly force to defend yourself or your home

Suicide- taking one’s own life is not a crime- however some states consider attempted suicide a crime

Crimes against property

The category of crimes against property includes two groups:

- crimes in which property is destroyed or damaged

- crimes in which property is stolen or taken against the owner's will.

Destruction of property

ArsonArson - the intentional and malicious burning of another person's property.

- In most states it is a crime to burn any building or structure, even if the person setting the fire is owner.

VandalismVandalism - the willful destruction of or damage to another person's property.

- Effects of vandalism include broken windows, graffiti, and damage to cars, buildings or mailboxes

Property is Taken or Stolen

These crimes include (Territo 2004):– LarcenyLarceny: Taking and carrying away the personal

property of another with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of the property.

Most states identify larceny as either Grand or Petty. Grand (property over $1000) is a felony Petty (property under $1000) is a misdemeanor

- ShopliftingShoplifting: the 2 elements of shoplifting are 1) willfully taking possession of or concealing unpurchased goods that are offered for sale 2) with the intention of converting the merchandise to the taker's personal use without paying the purchase price

More Property Crimes

ConcealmentConcealment- is similar to larceny, but a separate crime. Occurs when an attempt to shoplift occurs.

RobberyRobbery: Same elements as Larceny but adds that the taking of property must be in the presence of the victim by the means of either violence or intimidation, or both. Main difference between larceny & robbery is use of force

Burglary- Burglary- the unlawful entry into any dwelling or structure with the intention to commit a crime.

Receiving stolen goods

receiving stolen property receiving stolen property - Generally it consists of four elements:

1) the property must be received;

2) it must have been previously stolen;

3) the person receiving the property must have knowledge it was stolen;

4) the receiver must intend to deprive the rightful owner of his or her property.

More Property Crimes

Embezzlement: Embezzlement: Fraudulent conversion of the property of another by one who is already in lawful possession thereof with the intent to defraud the victim.

ExtortionExtortion- also called blackmailblackmail- occurs when one person uses threats to obtain another person's property.

The threats may include harm to the victim's body, property, reputation, or loved ones.

FRAUD

FraudFraud - A false representation of a matter of fact—whether by words or by conduct, by false or misleading allegations, or by concealment of what should have been disclosed—that deceives and is intended to deceive another so that the individual will act upon it to her or his legal injury.

Most fraud is considered white-collar crimewhite-collar crime- it involves more skill & wit than physical intimidation

five separate elements must exist to prove fraud

Elements of Fraud

1)1) a false statement of a material fact,

2) 2) knowledge on the part of the defendant that the statement is untrue,

3) 3) intent on the part of the defendant to deceive the alleged victim,

4) 4) justifiable reliance by the alleged victim on the statement, and

5) 5) there is injury to the alleged victim as a result.

Other crimes against property

Other crimes against property include: ForgeryForgery: altering or erasing an existing instrument or document w/ the intent to defraud. There must be a knowledge that the instrument is altered or falsified.

UtteringUttering: to publish or present a counterfeit note & to assert or declare, directly or indirectly, by words or actions, that the note offered is good. This is typically writing a bad check w/ knowledge

CyberCrimes

The Internet has led to an increase in cybercrime, which is any unlawful use of a computer or technology.

Modern cybercrimes include:– Identity Theft: Identity Theft: the use of a computer to defraud someone

of money or property by falsely using their personal information (SS#, PIN, credit card, etc)

– Piracy: Piracy: the illegal downloading or copying of any copyrighted materials (movies, games, software)

– Cyberbullying:Cyberbullying: use of any social media or electronic communication to intimidate, demean, embarass or harass

Crimes Against Morality

These crimes are based on societal beliefs about behaviors considered sinful

Includes:– Bigamy: Marrying another person while one’s spouse is still

living.– Incest: Two people either marry or have sexual relations

when they are so closely related.– Child pornography: images of nude children for perverted

purposes– Gambling: games of chance that have been made illegal– Prostitution: paying someone for sex

Organized crime

The FBI defines organized crime organized crime as any group having some manner of a formalized structure and whose primary objective is to obtain money through illegal activities. Such groups maintain their position through the use of actual or threatened violence, corrupt public officials, graft, or extortion, and generally have a significant impact on the people in their locales, region, or the country as a whole.

FBI often uses term criminal enterprise criminal enterprise synonymously with organized crime

Organized crime today

When you think of organized crime you probably picture the Italian Mafia of television and movies. But in recent years, the face of organized crime has changed, & the threat is broader and more complex than ever.

In addition to our own street gangs, organized crime in America today includes:Russian mobsters who fled to the U.S. after collapse of the Soviet UnionGroups from African countries like Nigeria that engage in drug trafficking and financial scams;Chinese tongs, Japanese Boryokudan, and other Asian crime rings; Criminal Enterprises based in E European nations like Hungary and Romania.

All of these groups have a presence in the U.S. or are targeting our citizens from afar—using the Internet and other technologies of our global age. More and more, they are literally becoming partners in crime, realizing they have more to gain from cooperating than competing.

Impact of Organized Crime

They manipulate and monopolize financial markets, traditional institutions like labor unions, and legitimate industries like construction & trucking.

They bring drugs into our cities and raise the level of violence in our communities by buying off corrupt officials and using graft, extortion, intimidation, and murder to maintain their operations.

Their underground businesses—including prostitution and human trafficking— destroy lives in our country & across the globe.

They also con us out of millions each year through various stock frauds and other financial scams.

The economic impact alone is estimated that global organized crime reaps illegal profits of around $1 trillion per year.