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 Maine, crimes are classified into various categories based on their nature and the harm they cause. Crimes against the person include offenses that result in physical harm or a threat of harm to individuals, such as assault, battery, rape, and murder. These are considered very serious offenses and are aggressively prosecuted, often carrying severe penalties including imprisonment. On the other hand, crimes against property involve the deprivation or damage to someone's property. Examples include criminal trespassing, burglary, robbery, bribery, blackmail, theft, and arson. While these crimes may not always involve physical harm to a person, they can still result in significant penalties, including fines and jail time. Maine's criminal statutes outline the specific elements and penalties for each of these offenses, and the severity of the punishment can vary based on factors such as the value of the property involved, the presence of a weapon, and the perpetrator's criminal history.