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 categorized into crimes against the person and crimes against property, similar to other jurisdictions. Crimes against the person include offenses that cause physical harm or threaten to cause 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, fines, and restitution. On the other hand, crimes against property involve the deprivation of a person's right to use or enjoy their property and can include criminal trespassing, burglary, robbery, bribery, blackmail, theft, and arson. These crimes can range from misdemeanors to felonies, depending on factors such as the value of the property involved and the presence of aggravating circumstances. Maine's criminal statutes outline the definitions, elements, and penalties for these offenses, and both categories are addressed within the Maine Criminal Code, which provides the legal framework for prosecution and sentencing in the state.