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 Colorado, crimes are categorized into various classes, with crimes against the person and crimes against property being two primary categories. Crimes against the person include offenses that cause physical harm or threaten to cause harm to individuals, such as assault, battery, sexual assault, and homicide. These are considered very serious and often carry severe penalties. On the other hand, crimes against property involve the theft, destruction, or unlawful intrusion upon someone's property rights. Examples include burglary, robbery, theft, arson, and criminal mischief. Colorado statutes define the elements of each crime and the potential penalties, which can range from fines and restitution to imprisonment. The severity of the punishment typically correlates with the severity of the crime, with violent crimes against persons generally facing harsher penalties than property crimes. However, aggravated forms of property crimes, such as armed robbery, can also result in significant sentences.