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 Washington State, crimes are indeed categorized by their nature, aligning with the broader legal principles. 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 various statutes in the Revised Code of Washington (RCW), such as RCW 9A.36 for assault and RCW 9A.44 for sex offenses. On the other hand, crimes against property, including criminal trespassing, burglary, robbery, bribery, blackmail, theft, and arson, involve the deprivation or damage to someone's property. These are addressed in sections like RCW 9A.52 for burglary and trespass, RCW 9A.56 for theft, and RCW 9A.48 for arson. Each category of crime carries specific legal definitions and penalties, which can range from misdemeanors to felonies, depending on the severity of the offense.