What is Definition of Crime?
“Crime” generally refers to a broad category of activities or actions that are prohibited by law and punishable by the legal system.
The Concept of Crime:
The concept of crime is essentially concerned with social order. Generally, a crime can be defined as an act fit for serious condemnation or an act that is frowned upon by society it may start off as a moral wrong that is then elevated to a prohibited act for which the society ascribes specific sanctions.
Definition of Crime by Various Jurists:
Kenny
He defined a crime as a wrong whose sanction is punitive and which is in no way remissible by any private person but is remissible by the Crown.
Keeton
Defined a crime as an undesirable act which the state finds most convenient to correct by the
institution of proceedings for the infliction of a penalty rather than leaving the remedy to the
discretion of the injured person.
Sutherland
Criminal behaviour is behaviour in violation of criminal law. No matter what the degree of immorality .reprehensibility or indecency of an act ,it is not a crime unless prohibited by the criminal law.
Halsbury
Crime as an unlawful act which is an offence against the public and the perpetrator of that act is liable to legal punishment.
Blackstone
Crime as an act committed or omitted in violation of a public law either forbidding or commanding it.
Detailed vedio on definition of Crime:
From a legal point of view
crime can be described as:
1. From the nature of the act itself.
a. It is a wrong which causes harm
b. It is a wrong against the whole community
c. It is a wrong that directly threatens the well-being and security of society.
From the proceedings
a. Crime is dealt with through criminal proceedings.
b. It is an illegal act whose proceedings are initiated, stopped or pardoned by the state.
(role of AG, etc)
From the consequences
a. It is a wrong whose sanction is punishment
b. It is a wrong whose sanction is punitive and for which the state decides on the
proceedings and the nature of that punishment.
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