Criminal Law Memo: Violent Crime vs. Property Crime - Assignment Example

According to Berman Press (2008), “Violent crime consists of four offenses: murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault” (pp. 9). Robbery is therefore considered a violent crime, and cannot be constituted as a property crime. For example, if Client X were to rob a convenience store, this would constitute robbery and therefore a violent crime. Property crimes generally deal with trespasses to or damages to property—which don’t necessarily involve people as targets of the crime.

That is the main difference between violent crime and property crime—is that property crime does not involve the use of a weapon in order to hurt a person or people. Violent crime is more serious because all four types of violent crime constitute felonies—whereas property crime may range anywhere from a misdemeanor (trespassing) to grand larceny (stealing a car) to a felony (arson), and therefore may not be considered as serious, of course depending on what the crime was that was committed.

It is hoped that this has adequately explained the differences between both types of crimes and why violent crime is much more serious than property crime, speaking generally. Sincerely, Lawyer XYZ.