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 Minnesota, crimes are indeed categorized by their nature, aligning with the broader legal tradition. 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 Minnesota Statutes sections 609.221 to 609.3451, which detail various degrees of assault, sexual offenses, and homicide. On the other hand, crimes against property, such as criminal trespassing, burglary, robbery, bribery, blackmail, theft, and arson, involve the deprivation or damage to someone's property. These crimes are addressed in Minnesota Statutes sections 609.52 to 609.595, which define the different forms of theft, robbery, burglary, arson, and related property offenses. Both categories of crimes carry a range of penalties, from fines to imprisonment, depending on the severity of the offense and the circumstances surrounding it.