Understanding Crime: Types and Impact on Society

Crime in itself is a variable and a dynamic subject. Thus, there are different types of crimes. Some crimes may be similar and other differ greatly. We see crimes committed by a single person or a group, crimes on nation and international stage. Thus, we need to classify the crimes. Mr. Sutherland, a criminologist, on the basis of how serious the crime is classifying them into two types ordinary and serious type of crimes. Mr. Bojore, divides crimes into four types on the basis of their objective and the sense of purpose namely, Monetary crimes: crimes committed due to want of money. Eg. Theft, fraud, cheating, forgery, gambling etc. Sexual crimes: both homosexual and heterosexual rapes.

Political crimes: treachery, treason and other politically motivated crimes.

Miscellaneous crimes: Crimes except the earlier described three types e.g. kidnapping, riots affray, wrongful confinement etc.

Other categories are

Murderous crimes: Everyone must be safe it is the duty of the state to ensure the safety of others. These are heinous crimes and are considered the crimes against the state. These are the crimes of the highest degree. They put the life in danger.

Crimes against moveable or immoveable possessions: The property and possessions of an individual play an important role in his well being. An owner must have the ownership and possession rights oh his belongings. Certain crimes such as theft, dacoity, fraud, forgery and looting deal with crimes against the moveable or immoveable possessions. Thus the possessions must be safeguarded and protected at all costs otherwise there will be riots, violence or chaos in the society and will affect the peace and harmony in the state.

Crimes against moral values: These crimes include immoral acts. Some immoral acts are not illegal or criminal in nature. In some socities morals form the base of the acts of the societies. Certain laws are governed by moral values but immoral acts such as lying, gambling, acts of love and affection in the public, nudity in public space form mpral crimes.

Crimes against public peace and order: These include rioting, affray, battery, hate speeches, inducing and abetment of crimes. These crimes harm the public peace and well being.

Crimes against Public Health: These include selling adulterated food to public, selling of unauthorized medicines, using faulty vaccines for treatment. These crimes affect the health and well being of the public.

Crimes in India

An assembly of five or more persons is designated an “unlawful assembly”, if the common object of the persons composing that assembly is—

First. —To overawe by criminal force, or show of criminal force, [the Central or any State Government or Parliament or the Legislature of any State], or any public servant in the exercise of the lawful power of such public servant; or

Second. —To resist the execution of any law, or of any legal process; or

Third. —To commit any mischief or criminal trespass, or other offence; or

Fourth. —By means of criminal force, or show of criminal force, to any person, to take or obtain possession of any property, or to deprive any person of the enjoyment of a right of way, or of the use of water or other incorporeal right of which he is in possession or enjoyment, or to enforce any right or supposed right; or

Fifth .—By means of criminal force, or show of criminal force, to compel any person to do what he is not legally bound to do, or to omit to do what he is legally entitled to do.