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 Iowa, crimes are indeed categorized by their nature, aligning with the broader classification of crimes against the person and crimes against property. Crimes against the person, such as assault, battery, sexual assault (which includes rape), and murder, are offenses that cause physical or psychological harm to individuals. These are covered under Iowa Code chapters 708 (Assault) and 707 (Homicide and Related Crimes), among others. For example, assault is defined in Iowa Code section 708.1 and can range from simple misdemeanor to felony, depending on the severity and circumstances. Crimes against property, such as criminal trespass (Iowa Code 716.7), burglary (Iowa Code 713), robbery (Iowa Code 711), theft (Iowa Code 714), and arson (Iowa Code 712), involve the unlawful taking, use, or damage of another's property. The severity of these crimes can vary from simple misdemeanors to felonies, often based on factors such as the value of the property involved or whether any person was harmed during the commission of the crime. Iowa law provides specific definitions and penalties for each of these offenses, which are designed to protect both the physical safety of individuals and the security of their property.