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 Maryland, 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 pose a direct threat to an individual's safety. Maryland law defines assault as any attempt or threat to physically harm another person, and battery as the actual physical contact or harm. Rape is defined as a non-consensual sexual act, and murder is the unlawful killing of another person with malice aforethought. On the other hand, crimes against property include criminal trespassing, burglary, robbery, bribery, blackmail, theft, and arson. These crimes involve taking or damaging someone's property without their consent or through coercion. Maryland statutes provide specific definitions and penalties for each of these offenses, reflecting the severity of the crime and its impact on victims. For instance, theft can range from a misdemeanor for petty theft to a felony for grand theft, depending on the value of the property stolen. It's important for individuals to understand that both categories of crimes carry serious legal consequences and can result in significant penalties, including fines, restitution, and imprisonment.