According to Dictionary.com a crime is an action or an instance of negligence that is deemed injurious to the public welfare or morals or to the interests of the state and that is legally prohibited.
This means that a crime is some action that the state has determined should be discouraged or eliminated. The state can’t really keep you from doing bad things, but they can punish you for doing those things and hopefully you will realize that the punishment isn’t worth doing the action.
How does the state punish you? The big difference between a civil action and a criminal action is that in a criminal action, you can be put in jail and your freedom is taken away.
Trust me, if you don’t like people telling you what to do, you will really not like being in jail or prison!
The state can also give you a fine and possibly take away other privileges (such as taking away your driver’s license or right to vote).
I can’t list all of the activities that are considered criminal or I’d be here all day.
Basically, if you take something that isn’t yours to take, it’s a crime. If you touch anyone else and they don’t like it, it’s a crime. If you go somewhere and you aren’t supposed to be there, it’s a crime. If your actions could cause injury to anyone else, it’s a crime. If the state has determined that your actions may cause damage to society as a whole, it just might be a crime.
How do you know for sure if your actions might be criminal? You can check out the Virginia Code. When anyone is charged with a crime, they must be charged under one or more sections of the Virginia Code.
My advice? If you are thinking about doing something and you aren’t sure if it is a crime or not…I’d pass and not do it!
Tags: Crime, criminal, punishment, Virginia