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 North Dakota, crimes are indeed categorized by their nature, aligning with the broader legal tradition. Crimes against the person, such as assault (NDCC 12.1-17-01), battery, rape (NDCC 12.1-20-03), and murder (NDCC 12.1-16-01), are offenses that cause physical harm or pose a direct threat to the physical safety of individuals. These crimes are taken very seriously and carry severe penalties, including lengthy prison sentences for more serious offenses like murder. On the other hand, crimes against property, such as criminal trespass (NDCC 12.1-22-03), burglary (NDCC 12.1-22-02), robbery (NDCC 12.1-22-01), theft (NDCC 12.1-23-02), and arson (NDCC 12.1-21-01), involve the unlawful taking, use, or damage of another's property. Penalties for these crimes vary depending on the severity of the offense and the value of the property involved, with more serious offenses potentially leading to significant fines and imprisonment. Both categories of crimes are addressed by specific statutes in the North Dakota Century Code (NDCC), which outline the elements of each offense and the associated penalties.