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The term crime does not, in modern criminal law, have any simple and universally accepted definition, [2] though statutory definitions have been provided for certain purposes. [3] The most popular view is that crime is a category created by law ; in other words, something is a crime if declared as such by the relevant and applicable law. [ 2 ]
A violent crime, violent felony, crime of violence or crime of a violent nature is a crime in which an offender or perpetrator uses or threatens to use harmful force upon a victim. This entails both crimes in which the violent act is the objective, such as murder , assault , rape and assassination , as well as crimes in which violence is used ...
An English court room in 1886, with Lord Chief Justice Coleridge presiding Actus reus is Latin for " guilty act " and is the physical element of committing a crime. It may be accomplished by an action, by threat of action, or exceptionally, by an omission to act, which is a legal duty to act.
A criminal charge is a formal accusation made by a governmental authority (usually a public prosecutor or the police) asserting that somebody has committed a crime. A charging document, which contains one or more criminal charges or counts , can take several forms, including:
In the United States, criminal battery, or simple battery, is the use of force against another, resulting in harmful or offensive contact, including sexual contact. [12] At common law, simple battery is a misdemeanor. The prosecutor must prove all three elements beyond a reasonable doubt: an unlawful application of force; to the person of another
This category includes articles on specific types and instances of crime.For articles on crime in general, see Category:Crime.Articles which only allege that a crime has occurred should not be included in these categories (e.g. an article about a person or company that is indicted but whose case is later dismissed).
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A misdemeanor is considered a crime of lesser seriousness, and a felony one of greater seriousness. [2] The maximum punishment for a misdemeanor is less than that for a felony under the principle that the punishment should fit the crime. [3] [4] [5] One standard for measurement is the degree to which a crime affects others or society ...