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 Montana (MT), 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 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, Montana Code Annotated (MCA) 45-5-202 defines assault, and penalties can range from fines to imprisonment depending on the severity of the assault. Crimes against property, such as criminal trespass, burglary, robbery, bribery, blackmail, theft, and arson, involve the unlawful taking or damaging of another's property. These can range from misdemeanors to felonies, with penalties varying based on the value of the property involved and the circumstances of the crime. For instance, theft, as defined under MCA 45-6-301, can result in charges from petty theft, which may result in a small fine or short jail term, to grand theft, which can carry substantial prison sentences.