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 New Jersey, 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 or psychological harm to individuals. These are covered under the New Jersey Code of Criminal Justice (Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes). For example, assault and battery are typically covered under 2C:12-1, whereas homicide, including murder, is detailed in 2C:11-2 and following sections. Rape, legally referred to as sexual assault in New Jersey, is addressed under 2C:14-2. On the other hand, crimes against property, such as criminal trespassing, burglary, robbery, theft, and arson, involve the deprivation of property or damage to it. These are also defined in Title 2C, with theft offenses starting at 2C:20-2, burglary at 2C:18-2, and arson at 2C:17-1. The specific statutes outline the elements of each crime, potential defenses, and the range of penalties that can be imposed upon conviction. The classification of these crimes helps in determining the appropriate legal proceedings, potential charges, and the nature of the penalties.