Crime can be defined as an unlawful act, which is punishable by authorities. In most cases, the word crime is declared as such based on the applicable laws in place. The most popular view is that it is a forbidden act harmful to society and individuals. This paper seeks to analyze four different types of crimes, namely crimes against persons, crimes against property, white-collar crimes, and drug crimes. Conventionally, murder is a felon classified under crimes against persons. Therefore, it is apparent that any criminal activity toward an individual is considered more heinous than others. Crimes against persons undermine the well-being of affected persons and the human fraternity.
Definitions
White-Collar Crimes
White collar crimes represent all forms of non-violent crimes that are committed via deceptive practices for financial gain. In most circumstances, the crime is committed by business individuals with access to a large volume of money ( Canter, & Youngs, 2016). Guns are rarely used in committing such crimes. Notably, it is the most challenging form of crime to prosecute since they always entail a sophisticated system as well as several people. Examples include bribery, cybercrime, funds embezzlement, extortion, and all forms of frauds.
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Drug Crimes
Drug crimes entail criminal activities such as producing, possessing, and distributing drugs categorized under possibilities of abuse. In most situations, they are related to organized crimes, gangs, and drug cartels who engage in trafficking to enrich their lives. In the process, they put the lives of the public in danger as most of the activities have dreadful impacts. Drug crimes is classified under felony as a serious act punishable by harsh penalties.
Crimes Against Property
Crimes against property involve theft, and no force is directed towards a person. In most instances, property is destroyed or stolen against the will of the lawful owner. Such crimes entail a wide variety of actions some of which are classified under felony. Examples include car theft, burglary, general theft, arson, shoplifting, and vandalism. In cases of armed robbery, the lives of people are at risk since death may occur, and it is classified as a felony. Therefore, in the determination of punishment, the severity is keenly gauged.
Crimes Against Persons
Crimes against persons comprise an array of offenses involving harm to the body, threats, or other actions committed against the will of the recipient. Crimes that may harm a person entail domestic violence, battery, and assault (Corcoran, Lader, & Smith, 2016). Other crimes against persons include kidnapping, stalking, and harassment. Notably, each criminal act has its magnitude matching equivalent punishment criteria depending on the consequence.
I believe that crimes against persons is the most serious among the discussed four forms of crimes. Particularly, it involves murder, which is considered the most heinous of all in almost all countries. However, there are other weaker ones such as stalking, which may have lesser charges. I think that the life of a human being is important and anything that puts it in danger should be condemned by all means. Noting that taking away life is an irreversible process makes related crimes more dangerous than property-related crimes. However, drug crimes come closer to it since they places the lives of people at risk which is why in most states it is considered a felony as well.
I often have respect for another person’s life, and I would do everything possible to preserve it. According to Bible readings, life is highly regarded, and killing is shunned. In some horrifying tales, one may be haunted for life for killing or doing something harmful to a person. This perspective causes me to expound further on this matter with the use of biological theories, which may be instrumental at explaining why some people have little to no empathy at observing the well-being of others.
Biological Theory and Crime
Acts of crime arise from deviance, which can be described as differing from society’s set standards. Several theories can be used to explain deviance. However, in this case, the biological approach has been chosen as the most applicable. The approach can be explained using three different modalities: Cesare Lombroso theory, Y chromosome theory, and William Sheldon theory. Lombroso, an Italian criminologist, believed that the criminal mind was inherited (Fishbein, 2017, p. 35). In his explanation, Lombroso asserted that criminals had distinct physical features such as large lips, large ears, and an asymmetrical face. Therefore, he believed that such features occurred within a lineage and were inherited. The Y chromosome concept, on the other hand, asserts that criminals have an extra Y chromosome, which makes them have XYY makeup instead of XY; thus, this creates a strong compulsion for crimes. In another viewpoint, Sheldon categorized people based on their body shapes and structure: He concluded that mesomorphs, muscular persons, were prone to committing crimes as compared to ectomorphs, and endomorphs. The biological perspective may, thus, excuse those who commit crimes against persons, as the drive to commit the acts is naturally motivated.
Conclusion
Crimes against persons are serious as they degrade the respect for individuals. Murder, which is the most heinous behavior, destroys the very life people were born to protect. Also, drug crime is considered a felony based on the fact that it indirectly endangers the lives of a person. Similarly, robbery with violence, classified under crimes against property, is as well considered a felony and has stringent punishment terms because it places human life at risk. When charging a criminal act, the magnitude is often given priority to determine the right punishment measures. The tendency to commit a crime can be well explained with use of the biological theory: A particular lineage of individuals may engage in crime depending on hereditary factors.
References
Canter, D., & Youngs, D. (2016). Crime and society.
Corcoran, H., Lader, D., & Smith, K. (2016). Hate Crime, England and Wales. Statistical bulletin , 5 , 15.
Fishbein, D. H. (2017). Biological perspectives in criminology. In Biosocial Theories of Crime (pp. 3-48). Routledge.
