Crime:

The word crime is derived from the Latin word “crīmen” meaning "charge" or "cry of
distress." In 13th century English crime meant "sinfulness.”

Definition of Crime According to Renowned Jurists

According to Bentham:
“Offenses are whatever the legislature has prohibited for good or for bad reasons.”

According to Austin:
“A wrong which is pursued at the discretion of the injured party and his
representatives is a civil injury; a wrong which is pursued by the sovereign or his
subordinates is a crime.”

According to Blackstone:
He defined crime in his “Commentaries on The Laws of England.” He defined it as
“An act committed or omitted in violation of a public law either forbidding or
commanding it.” He also defined crime as “Violation of the public rights and duties
due to the whole community, considered as a community, in its social aggregate
capacity.”
The editor of Blackstone, Stephen, has made slight changes in the definition and
presented it as “A crime is a violation of a right, considered in reference to the evil
tendency of such violation as regards the community at large.”

According to Stephen:
“Crime is an act forbidden by law and which is at the same time revolting to the
moral sentiments of the society.”
According to Paton:
“The normal marks of a crime are that the State has the power to control the
procedure, to remit the penalty or to inflict the punishment.”

From the above definitions, it can be said that there is no constant definition of
crime. Each jurist has defined the crime differently according to their views and
opinions. The Code of Criminal Procedure with commentary by Mohammad Mazhar
Hassan Nizami defined crime as:
Crime or Offence is an illegal act or omission prohibited by or punishable at law and
for which a special procedure is provided at law to punish the offender.

Types Of Crimes:
There are several types of crimes.
Crime Against Person:
Crimes against persons involve direct harm or threat of harm to an individual.
Examples include assault, homicide, kidnapping, and domestic violence.

Crime Against Property:

Crimes against property involve interference with someone else's right to use or
enjoy their property. Examples include theft, burglary, arson, and vandalism.

White Collar Crime:

White collar crimes are non-violent crimes committed by individuals or businesses in
positions of trust and authority. These crimes are usually financially motivated and
include fraud, embezzlement, insider trading, and identity theft.

Blue Collar Crime:

Blue collar crimes, on the other hand, typically refer to crimes committed by
individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, often involving physical force or
threat of force. Examples include robbery, assault, and drug-related offenses.

Drug crimes:
The drug‐crime category encompasses a range of offenses connected with the use,
transportation, purchase, and sale of illegal drugs.

Street crime:
The most common forms of predatory crime—rape, robbery, assault, burglary,
larceny, and auto theft—occur most frequently on urban streets. Racial minority
citizens account for a disproportionately high number of the arrests for street
crimes.

Organized crime:
The term “organized crime” refers to the unlawful activities of members of criminal
organizations that supply illegal goods and services.

Political crime:
The political‐crime category contains both crimes by the government and crimes
against the government. Political goals motivate political criminals.

Victimless crime:
Consensual acts (in which people are willing participants) and violations in which
only the perpetrator is hurt, such as the personal use of illegal drugs, are called
victimless crimes.
Essential Elements of Crimes:

The seven elements of a crime, also known as the “criminal elements,” are the
essential components that must be present for an act to be considered a crime.
These elements vary slightly depending on the jurisdiction but generally include the
following:

1. Actus reus:

This Latin term refers to the “guilty act” or the physical act of committing a
crime. It can also refer to an omission or failure to act required by law.

2. Mens rea:

This Latin term refers to the “guilty mind” or the intent or knowledge of
wrongdoing necessary to commit a crime. It can also refer to a reckless or
negligent state of mind sufficient to establish criminal liability.

3. Concurrence:

This element requires that the actus reus and mens rea co-occur. In other words,
the intent to commit the crime must be present when the act is committed.

4. Causation:

This element requires that the actus reus must have caused the harm or injury
that is the basis of the crime.

5. Harm:

This element requires the actus reus to have caused damage or injury to another
person, property, or society.

6. Legality:

This element requires that the act must be prohibited by law. A person cannot be
punished for a show that is not illegal.

7. Punishment:

This element requires that there must be a prescribed punishment for the crime.
A person cannot be punished for a crime that does not have a prescribed
penalty.
Crimes Impact on Society:

In order for the community development process to properly address crime and
the issues it causes, those leading the process need to understand the effect that
crime has on communities. With few exceptions, crime is going to have a
decidedly negative effect on a community and its members; bringing people
together and taking action against crime is really its only redeeming quality.
Every community is going to be different and will have different types and
amounts of crime occurring there. Thus there's going to be some variation
regarding the impact of crime from community to community. A few of the
effects include:

 Reduces Safety-Crime and safety go hand in hand; when one increases, the
other typically decreases in response. Higher rates of criminal activity are
going to negatively impact safety beyond the action of a crime being
committed. People are actually going to feel like they are not safe when
they learn a crime has happened in their area. They may take action as a
result, and those actions may put themselves and others in danger if they
are not careful. This can be especially true when stereotypes and
misconceptions about crime are added to the mix.

 Disrupts Order, Creates Chaos-Crime naturally goes against the established

social rules, which can prevent things in a community from functioning
properly. It's counteractive to how things operate and serious cases can be
especially devastating when they occur on a large scale (e.g. violence).
Criminal acts have actually been a method of turning the social order upside
down for years, and it has historically been a favored tactic of criminal
organizations.Being able to disrupt the social order of a community is
powerful-especially when it's well-executed-and the chaos that comes from it
can be an easy way to assume control.
 Generates Stress-People worry about their safety, the safety of their loved
ones, all the time. It's a fairly normal part of life, but it can be problematic
when increases in crime cause a person to worry all the time. Safety threats
can be especially worrisome and stressful, more so when they hit close to
home. Prolonged stress can cause health issues and disrupt a person's life,
regardless of what the source is. When something like crime rates cause
stress throughout a community, those effects are amplified and can impact
the functionality of the community.
 Economic Costs-Crime is expensive and can put a lot of added strain on the
local economy. It places a huge financial burden on communities to prevent,
combat, and clean-up the aftermath of criminal activity. These are things that
occupy a pretty significant portion of budgets in communities across the
 country. There's an entire market dedicated to crime prevention and security
alone, which has its own economic implications in society. Economic facets
like tourism and business can be especially impacted by crime, as productivity
and sales can drop in areas associated with criminal activity. This doesn't
even necessarily count the personal and non-monetary costs crime has on a
community, like pain and suffering.
 Impedes Community Collaboration and Trust-Any action that impeded
public safety is going to impact the trust present throughout the community.
Specifically the trust people have that regarding the things in the community
that are supposed to protect them. This could include community leadership
and practices, public services like law enforcement, and even trust shared
amongst peers. When there is a lack of trust in a community, its ability to
collaborate is impeded. People don't necessarily want to work with someone
that they don't trust, and the outcome of their collaboration can be
impacted.

Addressing Crime In Communities:

Acknowledging and understanding crime in communities is different than addressing

the situation. Knowing what causes criminal activity and safety threats to occur
doesn't actually do anything to prevent such things from happening in a community.
Taking action to prevent crime and/or maintain security is going to be the best thing
a community can do to keep itself and its members safe. Many of those actions can
be implemented through the community development process-which can help
pinpoint exactly what is needed and where. Some of the measures that a community
can take to address crime can include:

 Neighborhood Watch Programs-Watch programs of any kind are a fairly

easy and inexpensive crime-fighting tactic for communities. They usually
don't need any formal approval from local leadership or officials, and can be
implemented pretty much anywhere. A community seeking to set up a
neighborhood watch program needs to have cohesion and communication
amongst its members. Resources, including educational materials, for
starting a neighborhood watch group can be obtained through local law
enforcement or the National Neighborhood Watch Institute.
 Environmental Improvements-Certain things in a community's environment
can deter or encourage crime. Changing these aspects of a community's
environment, when possible, can impact how crime develops. For example,
areas that have poor visibility or are unmonitored are going to make it easier
for criminal activities to occur. The inclusion of things like lights, patrols, and
security cameras can act as deterrents because they attract attention to
those areas.In some cases, signs or notices about surveillance can function in
 the same way. There is no guarantee that any environmental improvements
will get rid of crime completely, but it can make a difference.

 Law Enforcement-When it's an option, having trained personnel in the

community whose purpose is to enforce safety can really help prevent crime
and maintain security. Law enforcement officers have the education and
resources to properly handle the different aspects of crime in the community,
and they can be really efficient when there's effective management guiding
them. When formal law enforcement isn't available, many community watch
programs will act in a similar role.
 Natural Disaster Preparedness-Natural disasters can be very chaotic events
for a community, and they can prompt a variety of crimes. Looting is a fairly
common issue for communities after a natural disaster hits, and it's not
always a result of people in desperate need of survivable resources.Preparing
for natural disasters-whether it's educating residents about scams or
implementing new procedures-can help reduce crimes associated with them.
For communities that are located in disaster-prone areas, this may need to be
thoroughly addressed in the community development process.

Suggestions to curb the crime:

“The anticipation, recognition and appraisal of a crime risk and the initiation of some
action to remove or reduce it.”

It is the philosophy of the Wilson Police Department that preventing crime is

preferable to dealing with crime after it has occurred. Crime Prevention concentrates
on the dual concept of eliminating or minimizing criminal opportunities, whenever
possible, and encouraging citizens to be responsible for their own security and the
security of others.

If you are concerned about the security of your home or business, call and setup an
appointment for a security survey with one of our officers. Our officers will come to
your home or business and walk through the inside and observe the outside and give
suggestions (if needed) on how to further secure your property against burglary and
intrusion.

Crime Prevention Tips:

 Make Your Home Look Occupied: Leave some lights and a radio on when
you’re out.
 Lock Your Doors: Never leave your house open for “just a moment,” always
lock your doors when you’re out.
 Use Deadbolt Locks: A deadbolt lock is a good deterrent to burglars.
 Don’t Hide A Key Outside: Burglars know all the secret hiding places.
 Drill And Pin Your Windows: Window locks can be jimmied, pins cannot.
 Brace Sliding Glass Doors: If the door is braced, the only way a burglar can
get through it is to break it.
 Install Good Exterior Lighting: Motion sensor lights and other good lights
don’t let a burglar hide in the dark.
 Keep Bushes And Shrubs Trimmed: If bushes are too high, someone hiding
near your windows and doors cannot be seen.
 Stop Mail And Paper Deliveries: If you go on vacation, stop deliveries or have
one of your neighbors collect your mail and papers.
 Get A Dog: Even a small dog may be a deterrent to a burglar.
 Install An Alarm System: Houses with alarms are avoided by burglars.
 The installation of surveillance cameras and/or Ring doorbell cameras aids
our investigations. Additionally, having them online so access can be granted
to law enforcement assist us in solving and preventing crimes. If you have an
alarm please post a sign in your yard or place a sticker on your windows in a
visible place.

Ways to Control or Reduce Crime in Society:

1. Education and Awareness: Promoting education and awareness programs can

inform people about the consequences of crime and encourage them to make
lawful choices.

2. Community Policing: Building strong relationships between law enforcement

and communities fosters trust and cooperation, leading to better crime
prevention and resolution.

3. Social Support Systems: Strengthening social support systems, such as mental

health services and substance abuse programs, can address underlying issues
contributing to criminal behavior.

4. Employment Opportunities: Creating job opportunities and job training

programs can reduce unemployment, which is often linked to crime in
economically disadvantaged areas.

5. Harsher Penalties for Serious Crimes: Strict enforcement and severe penalties
for serious crimes can deter potential offenders and protect the community.
 6. Restorative Justice Programs: Implementing restorative justice programs that
focus on repairing harm caused by the crime and rehabilitating offenders can be
more effective than traditional punitive measures.

7. Technological Solutions: Utilizing technology, such as surveillance cameras

and data analytics, can enhance law enforcement's ability to prevent and
investigate crimes.

8. Conflict Resolution and Mediation: Teaching conflict resolution skills can help
individuals resolve disputes peacefully, reducing the likelihood of criminal
behavior.

9. Youth Engagement: Investing in youth programs and activities can keep young
people engaged, reducing their susceptibility to criminal influences.
Combining these approaches, communities can work towards controlling and
reducing crime effectively.

10.Punishment: Punishment is also a way to reduce or control crime in the

society.
According to Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) under Section 53, there are 10 types of
punishment.
1- Qisas
2- Diyat
3- Arsh
4- Daman
5- Tazir
6- Death
7- Imprisonment for life
8- Imprisonment which may be (i) Rigorous i.e. with hard labor (ii) Simple
9- Forfeiture of property (haq-e-jaidad se mehroomi)
10- Fine
Qisas:
Qisas, According to Sec 299(k),punishment by causing similar hurt at the earn
part of the body of the convict as he has caused to the victim or by causing his death
if he has committed qatiri-amd in exercise of the right of the victim or a wali.
Diyat:
Diyat has been defined in section 299(e) as:
"Diyat means the compensation specified in Section 323 payable to the heirs of the
victim."In the definition the words "heirs of the victim" have been used and not the
words "the victim or his heirs". This means that Diyat is a compensation payable only
in cases of Qatl and not in cases of hurt.
Arsh:
Arsh has been defined in section 299(b) as:"Arsh means the compensation
specified in this Chapter to be paid to the victim of his heirs.
Daman:
Daman has been defined in section 299 (d) of PPC as:
"Daman means the compensation determined by the Court to be paid by the
offender to the victim for causing hurt not 'liable to Arsh."
Tazir:
Tazir has been defined in Section 299(b) as: punishment other than "Tazir means
Qisas, Diyat, Aish, or Daman.
Death:
This Is the highest form of punishment authorized by law, This may be awarded
as punishment in the following offences:
i. Waging war against Pakistan
ii. Abetting mutiny actually committed
iii. Murder
iv. Dacoity accompanied with murder
v. Hijacking
Imprisonment for Life:
Imprisonment for life is the second highest form of punishment as
specified in PPC. It is inflicted for the following offences:
i. Waging or attempting to wage war or abetting waging was against Pakistan.
ii. Collecting arms etc with attention of waging war against Pakistan.
iii. Sedition.
iv. Counterfeiting Pakistan coin.
v. Punishment for murder
vi. Kidnapping or abducting in Order to commit murder.
vii. Dacoity with murder
Imprisonment:
Imprisonment means the act of putting or confining a person in prison.
Imprisonment is of two kinds.

(a) Rigorous:
In the case of Rigorous Imprisonment the offender is put to hard labour, such as
grinding the cord, drawing water digging earth, cutting fire woods etc.

(b) Simple:
In the case of simple imprisonment, the offender is confined in jail and is riot put to
any kinds of work.The maximum period of imprisonment that can be awarded for an
offence is fourteen years (Section 55). The shorten term provided for an offence was
twenty four hours but now 1 or 3 months.
Forfeiture of Property:

Following of property is retained as a punishment in the following cases:

i. Whoever commits, or prepares to commit, depredation on the territories of any

power at peace with Government, shall be liable in addition to other punishments,
to forfeiture of any property used, or intended to be used in depredation or acquired
thereby. (Section 126).
ii. Whoever knowingly receives property taken as above mentioned or in waging war
against any Asiatic power at peace with government, shall be liable to forfeit such
property. (Section 127).
iii. A public servant, who improperly purchases property, which by virtue of his
office, he is legally prohibited from purchasing forfeits such property.(Section 169)
Fine:

The Punishment of fine may also be given along with other punishment on the
commission of any offence. it is as much a punishment as Diyat, Arsh or Daman. It is
the only Punishment provided for in Sections 137, 154, 155, 156,171-G 171H, 171-1,
278, 283, 290 and 294-A.