What is a crime?
A crime is an act defined as punishable by law. The Criminal Code and other regulations have precisely defined which acts are crimes and what kind of punishments can be imposed for them. The crime can be, for example, theft, assault, fraud or murder. The Criminal Code also defines which acts are minor crimes and which are more serious.
Definition of crime
In the Criminal Code, a crime is defined as an act that meets the characteristics of a crime and is therefore punishable. The hallmarks of a crime refer to the special features that make an act a crime. For example, the hallmark of theft is that a person takes another’s property without permission and intentionally keeps it for himself.
Classification of crimes
Crimes can be classified in different ways, for example based on their severity or the way they are committed. In general, crimes are divided into the following categories:
- Crimes against life and health: These include, for example, murder, manslaughter, assault and causing death.
- Property crimes: These include, for example, theft, robbery, embezzlement and damage.
- Economic crimes: These include, for example, tax fraud, accounting crimes and money laundering.
- Sexual crimes: These include, for example, rape, sexual abuse of a child and sexual harassment.
- Traffic offences: These include, for example, drunk driving, endangering traffic safety and driving a vehicle without a license.
Criminal liability
Criminal liability means that a person can be held criminally responsible for the crime he has committed. This means that the person may be sentenced to a penalty such as a fine, imprisonment or community service. Criminal liability usually requires that a person has acted intentionally or with gross negligence.
Sanctions of the crime
A crime usually results in a punishment, which can be, for example:
- Fine: A monetary penalty imposed for lesser crimes.
- Imprisonment: Loss of liberty, which may be conditional or absolute. Conditional imprisonment means that the convict will not go to prison if he does not commit new crimes during the probationary period.
- Community service: Punishment in which the convicted does unpaid work for the benefit of society.
- Supervision punishment: A punishment in which the convict is under supervision and his movement is restricted.
Reporting and investigation of a crime
It is important for the victim or witness of a crime to report the crime to the police. The police investigates the crime and collects the evidence, on the basis of which the prosecutor can decide whether to press charges. The investigation of a crime can include, for example, interrogations, technical investigation and hearing of witnesses.
Sources
Additional information about crimes and criminal law can be found in the following sources:
