Basic Information
Societies define crime as the breach of one or more rules or laws for which some governing authority or force may ultimately prescribe a punishment. The key consideration is that a law must exist and the offender must transgress it (not necessarily with intent, although intent - mens rea- is an important factor in some crimes). There is no requirement for any loss to have resulted, merely for the law to be broken is considered an offence against the state for which punishment is exacted1.
Written codes of laws go back at least as far as the ancient Sumerians.
See Also: Random Crime Generator
List of Crimes
By no means is this list exhaustive. People will try crazy things you've never thought of, and other folks will be sure to make it illegal when they do.
(Listed in parenthesis are links to pages about criminals who specialize in these crimes.)
- Abuse
- Adultery
- Affray
- Aggravated Assault
- Aggravated Battery
- Aggravated Felony
- Alchemy (Alchemist)
- Alien Smuggling
- Arson (Arsonist)
- Art Auction Fraud
- Assassination (Assassin)
- Assault
- Assault and Battery
- Battery
- Blackmail (Blackmailer)
- Blasphemy
- Bootlegging (Bootlegger)
- Bribery
- Broadcast Signal Intrusion
- Burglary
- Car Theft
- Cattle Rustling (The Rustler)
- Child Abuse
- Child Pornography
- Claim Jumping (Claim Jumper)
- Confidence Game (Con Artist)
- Conspiracy
- Contract Killing (Hitman)
- Corruption of Public Officials
- Counterfeiting (Counterfeiter)
- Crimes Against Humanity
- Cruelty To Animals
- Cybercrime (Hacker)
- Disorderly Conduct
- Disturbing The Peace
- Domestic Violence
- Drug Dealing (Drug Dealer)
- Drug Possession
- Drug Trafficking (Smuggler)
- DUI aka DWI
- Espionage (Spy)
- Extortion
- Failure to Appear In Court
- False Imprisonment
- Felony
- Felo-de-se
- Forestalling
- Forgery (Forger)
- Fraud
- Gambling (Gambler or Cheater)
- Genocide
- Grand Theft Auto (Car Thief)
- Grave Robbing (Grave Robber)
- Gunsmuggling (Smuggler)
- Harassment
- Heresy (Heretic)
- Highway Robbery (The Highwayman)
- Homicide (Murderer)
- Horse Rustling (The Rustler)
- Human Trafficking (Human Trafficker)
- Identity Theft
- Illegal Salvage (Wrecker)
- Illicit Drug Use (Junkie)
- Indictable Offences
- Infraction
- Insider Trading
- Jaywalking
- Juvenile Delinquency
- Kidnapping (Kidnapper)
- Labor Racketeering
- Loan Sharking (Loan Shark)
- Maleficium
- Manslaughter
- Medical Malpractice (Incompetent Doctor)
- Misdemeanor
- Money Laundering
- Moving Violation
- Murder (Murderer)
- Oath-breaking
- Obstruction of Justice
- Organ Theft
- Paraphilia
- Passport Fraud (Forger)
- Perjury (Liar)
- Piracy (Pirate)
- Poaching (Poacher)
- Pornography
- Property Crimes
- Property Damage
- Prostitution
- Public Drunkeness
- Public Nudity
- Public Order Crimes
- Racketeering
- Rape (Rapist)
- Riot
- Robbery (Robber)
- Rustling (The Rustler)
- Sedition
- Serial Arson
- Serial Murder (Serial Killer)
- Serial Rape (Serial Rapist)
- Sexual Abuse
- Sexual Assault
- Sexual Harassment
- Simony
- Simple Assault
- Sin
- Slavery (Slaver, Slave Owner, Human Trafficker)
- Smuggling (Smuggler)
- Statutory Rape
- Stock Manipulation Schemes
- Suicide (Dead)
- Summary Offences
- Tampering with Witnesses
- Tax Fraud
- Terrorism (Terrorist)
- Theft (Thief)
- Trafficking in Vehicles with Altered Identification Numbers
- Train Robbery (Train Robber or Wild West Outlaw)
- Transporting Persons Across State Lines For Purposes Of Forcing Them Into Prostitution (Human Trafficker, Kidnapper)
- Treason (Traitor)
- Trespass
- Vagrancy
- Vandalism (Vandal)
- Verbal Offence
- Victimless Crimes
- Violent Crimes
- War Crimes
- Witchcraft (Witch)
See Also:
- Black Market
- Courtroom Procedure
- Crime and Punishment Tropes
- Crime Scene
- Criminal
- Grey Market
- Historical and Cultural Perspectives on Zoophilia
- Investigator
- Law
- Organized Crime
- Police Procedure
- Punishment
- Stealing the Bomb
- Victim
Sources
List of crimes extrapolated from various wikipedia articles.
Game and Story Use
- You never know what the Villains and Organized Crime will be up to.
- See also our Random Crimes generator.