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A criminal is generally a person who is convicted of an offense or offenses against society to a degree injurious to the mental or physical well-being of a person or major destruction or loss of property, which includes the attempt to do the same.

There are two classifications or grade of crimes defining higher levels of punishment in criminal law, and clearly defining the criminal. Felony grade crimes carry significantly higher penalties and are the only level where prison terms may be served. Misdemeanor grade crimes generally allow imprisonment at the county jail level and usually for less than one year.

Larcenous acts are pooled into criminal codes according to the losses incurred versus the degree of the crime. Criminals also venture into areas of misconduct against children, illegal sexual acts, computer and identity crimes, property crimes. arson, robbery, gambling, kidnapping and custodial interference issues, and many other crimes against property and public order.

The criminal codes are all inclusive with statutes against solicitation, conspiracy, or facilitation by a person of a crime. Most criminal justice systems also incorporate a plethora of statues prohibiting bribery of officials, making false statements or testimony, and other acts against the fair and fluid operation of the judicial systems.

The public servants who protect and serve us, such as police, correctional staff. fire and emergency medical personnel, while in the performance of their duties, are also protected by law against criminals.

One of the most complex set of statutes violated by criminals is in the area of illicit drug sale and use, and sexual offenses. In these statutes, degrees of criminality are defined through ages, weight values, and dollar amounts.

Most criminals employ weapons to further their goals and criminal statues generally define illegal sale, possession and use of various weapons. The use or intended use of a weapon to commit a crime brings a higher degree of consequence to the criminal.

The philosophies and values of a society dictate criminal laws and actually separate the criminal from the average citizen. For instance, a person who committed adultery in the early and middle part of the 20th Century was a criminal in violation of felony grade adultery charges. Since the change in family and social values, the adultery laws has been abolished in most states allowing the criminal to be accepted as part of society if violating the antiquated adultery statutes.

On the other hand, threats against society in the 21st Century has initiated the enactment of statutes covering computer crimes, money laundering, and terrorism.

Many statutes define violations of laws but committing offenses does not particularly denote a person as a criminal. Minor offenses considered more inconvenience against the public are not criminal by definition but violation or offense status. Also, civil law violations and breach of contract under civil law does not constitute crime.

The definition of a criminal in our society evolves from socially accepted conduct defined through criminal statutes. Generally speaking, age old values against cheating, stealing, injuring, or destroying have stood the test of time and been included in laws world-wide and very clearly separate the criminal from the rest of society.

Learn more about this author, Donald Z. Smith.
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