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 Connecticut, crimes are indeed categorized by their nature, aligning with the general classifications mentioned. Crimes against the person, such as assault, battery, rape, and murder, are offenses that cause physical harm or a threat of harm to individuals. These are covered under various statutes in the Connecticut General Statutes (CGS), with each crime having specific elements that must be proven for a conviction. For example, assault in the first degree is detailed in CGS § 53a-59, with varying degrees of assault defined by the severity of the injury and the intent of the perpetrator. Crimes against property, such as criminal trespassing, burglary, robbery, bribery, blackmail, theft, and arson, involve the taking of property, damage to property, or unlawful entry with intent to commit a crime therein. These are also defined in the CGS, with theft and related offenses covered in CGS § 53a-119 and following sections, while burglary and criminal trespass are detailed in CGS § 53a-101 and CGS § 53a-107, respectively. Each crime against property has its own set of elements that the state must prove beyond a reasonable doubt for a conviction. Penalties for these crimes vary widely based on the severity of the offense, prior criminal history, and other factors.