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 York State, 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 New York Penal Law in various sections, with assault in Article 120, rape in Article 130, and homicide, including murder, in Article 125. Each of these crimes has specific definitions and degrees of severity that affect the potential penalties upon conviction. On the other hand, crimes against property, such as criminal trespass, burglary, robbery, larceny (theft), arson, and others, are offenses that involve the taking of property, damage to property, or unlawful entry with intent to commit a crime. These are also detailed in the New York Penal Law, with burglary and criminal trespass covered in Article 140, robbery in Article 160, larceny in Article 155, and arson in Article 150. The law specifies different degrees for these crimes as well, which determine the seriousness of the offense and the corresponding punishment. Both categories of crimes carry a range of penalties from fines and probation to imprisonment, depending on the severity of the offense and other factors such as prior criminal history.