Crimes are sometimes broadly classified or categorized by their nature—such as (1) crimes that are harmful to the victim’s body (assault, battery, rape, and murder) and are known as crimes against the person; and (2) crimes that are harmful to the victim by depriving him of his property or damaging his property and are known as crimes against property (criminal trespassing, burglary, robbery, bribery, blackmail, theft, arson).
In Florida, crimes are categorized into two broad classifications: crimes against the person and crimes against property. Crimes against the person include offenses that cause physical harm or a threat of harm to individuals, such as assault, battery, sexual battery (rape), and homicide (murder). These are considered serious offenses and are aggressively prosecuted, with penalties ranging from fines and probation to significant prison time, depending on the severity of the crime. On the other hand, crimes against property involve the unlawful taking or damaging of another's property. Examples include criminal trespass, burglary, robbery, theft, arson, and fraud-related crimes like bribery and blackmail. The penalties for property crimes vary widely based on the value of the property involved and the circumstances of the offense, with consequences including restitution, fines, probation, and incarceration. Both categories of crimes are governed by the Florida Statutes, which define the elements of each offense and the associated penalties.