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 Kentucky, crimes are indeed categorized by their nature, aligning with the broader classification of crimes against the person and crimes against property. 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 Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS) Chapters 507-509, which detail offenses like murder (KRS 507.020), assault (KRS 508.010), and rape (KRS 510.040). On the other hand, crimes against property involve the theft, destruction, or unlawful intrusion upon another's property. These crimes are addressed in KRS Chapters 511-514, which include burglary (KRS 511.020), robbery (KRS 515.020), theft (KRS 514.030), and arson (KRS 513.020). Both categories of crimes carry various penalties, including imprisonment, fines, and restitution, depending on the severity of the offense and the circumstances surrounding the crime.