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 Wisconsin, 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 harm or a threat of harm to individuals. These are covered under various statutes in the Wisconsin Criminal Code, such as Chapter 940 for crimes against life and bodily security, which includes homicide and assault, and Chapter 948 for crimes against children. On the other hand, crimes against property, such as criminal trespassing, burglary, robbery, bribery, blackmail, theft, and arson, involve the deprivation or damage to someone's property. These are addressed in statutes like Chapter 943, which deals with crimes against property, theft, and fraud. Each category of crime carries its own set of penalties and legal implications, and the severity of the punishment typically correlates with the severity of the crime.