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 Illinois, crimes are indeed categorized by their nature, aligning with the broader legal principles. Crimes against the person, such as assault, battery, rape, and murder, are offenses that cause physical or psychological harm to individuals. These are considered very serious and carry significant penalties. For example, assault and battery are covered under 720 ILCS 5/12-1 and 5/12-3, respectively, with varying degrees of severity based on the harm inflicted and the circumstances of the crime. Rape, now legally referred to as criminal sexual assault, is governed by 720 ILCS 5/11-1.20, and murder is addressed under 720 ILCS 5/9-1, with distinctions between first and second-degree murder based on intent and circumstances. Crimes against property, such as criminal trespassing, burglary, robbery, bribery, blackmail, theft, and arson, involve the deprivation or damage to someone's property. These crimes are detailed in the Illinois Criminal Code under various sections, such as burglary under 720 ILCS 5/19-1, robbery under 720 ILCS 5/18-1, and theft under 720 ILCS 5/16-1. The severity of the penalties for property crimes often depends on the value of the property involved and the manner in which the crime was committed.