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 Alaska, crimes are categorized into various classes, including crimes against the person and crimes against property. Crimes against the person involve harm or the threat of harm to individuals and include offenses such as assault, battery, sexual assault, and homicide. These are considered very serious and often carry severe penalties. For example, sexual assault and homicide can result in lengthy prison sentences. On the other hand, crimes against property involve the taking of property (theft, robbery), illegal entry with intent to commit a crime (burglary), destruction (arson), or other forms of harm to someone's property rights. 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. Alaska's statutes provide specific definitions and penalties for these offenses, which are codified in the Alaska Statutes, Title 11, which covers criminal law.