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 Alabama, 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 inflict physical harm or the threat of harm to individuals. These are considered very serious and are often felonies, carrying significant penalties including imprisonment. For example, Alabama Code Section 13A-6-2 defines assault, and Section 13A-6-61 defines rape. On the other hand, crimes against property, such as criminal trespassing, burglary, robbery, bribery, blackmail, theft, and arson, involve the unlawful taking or damaging of another's property. These can range from misdemeanors to felonies, depending on the severity of the offense. For instance, burglary is defined under Alabama Code Section 13A-7-5, and theft is under Section 13A-8-3. The state statutes provide specific definitions and penalties for each of these crimes, reflecting the seriousness of the offense and its impact on victims.