Crime is a broad term for the commission of acts that are considered socially harmful and dangerous by a society. It is also an important concept for the study of social processes such as social control and deviance. Crimes are a type of violence, but differ from direct forms such as war or terrorism because they typically involve more than one person and can be committed against people, property, animals, or the environment.
The definition of a crime varies between jurisdictions, with different laws prohibiting different kinds of behaviour. For example, murder may be a serious criminal offense in some countries but not in others. In addition, social attitudes sometimes change and activities that were once illegal may become legal again. For instance, abortion was once strictly prohibited in most Western countries but is now legal, and homosexual behavior between consenting adults is generally permitted in many countries.
In addition to a variety of criminal offences, there are also civil infractions and quasi-crimes such as false imprisonment, fraud, identity theft, copyright infringement and forgery. While much discussion and media coverage centers on violent crime, there is growing recognition of the harms caused by non-violent crimes such as homicides, suicides, and other work-related fatalities and injuries. The aim of this article is to shed light on the full range of harms that fall under the umbrella of crime and to challenge the assumptions that underpin popular perceptions of ‘crime’. It also introduces the primary sources of crime data and explains their strengths and limitations.
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