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 Ohio, crimes are indeed categorized by their nature, aligning with the broader legal tradition. Crimes against the person, such as assault, battery, rape, and murder, are offenses that cause physical or psychological harm to individuals. These are covered under Ohio Revised Code Title 29, which details offenses against the peace and safety of persons, including specific chapters on assault and homicide. For example, assault (ORC §2903.13) and aggravated murder (ORC §2903.01) have their own statutes defining the offenses and their penalties. On the other hand, crimes against property, such as criminal trespassing, burglary, robbery, bribery, blackmail, theft, and arson, involve the deprivation or damage to someone's property. These are addressed in Ohio Revised Code Title 29 as well, with separate chapters for theft and fraud (ORC §2913) and arson and related offenses (ORC §2909), among others. Each type of crime has specific legal definitions and associated penalties, which can range from minor misdemeanors to serious felonies, depending on the severity of the offense.
