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 South Dakota, 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 addressed in the South Dakota Codified Laws (SDCL) under various sections. For example, assault and battery are typically covered under SDCL Chapter 22-18, while rape and sexual offenses are detailed in SDCL Chapter 22-22. Murder and homicide offenses are outlined in SDCL Chapter 22-16. On the other hand, crimes against property, including criminal trespassing, burglary, robbery, theft, arson, and related offenses, are found in different chapters of the SDCL. Burglary and criminal entry are covered under SDCL Chapter 22-32, robbery is addressed in SDCL Chapter 22-30, theft and related crimes are in SDCL Chapter 22-30A, and arson is detailed in SDCL Chapter 22-33. These laws define the offenses, set forth the elements that the state must prove for a conviction, and prescribe the penalties for each crime, which can range from fines and restitution to imprisonment.