A crime is an act against a person or property that violates a legal rule. It is an offense and, if proven, can carry punishments such as fines, community service, restitution, probation, jail time, and in the case of murder, life imprisonment or death.
What a person or collectivity does to make something a crime depends on the context and culture in which they are operating. Social changes can result in new crimes and the obsolescence of old ones. The narrow legal view of crime defines what is criminal by reference to a set of rules, typically the criminal code.
Critics of this narrow legal view argue that societal values should determine which behaviors are banned by formal law. They point out that a large proportion of the criminal population engages in behaviors that are not included in legal definitions, such as homicide and robbery. They also question whether some behavior is criminalized only because it threatens the interests of the powerful, whereas other damaging behaviors do not receive the same attention from the authorities.
Journalists should treat any information relating to crimes or criminal justice issues with great care, especially where victims are involved. They should seek access respectfully and sensitively, and consider victims’ stress and emotions when reporting on such topics. They should not publish anything that might compromise a continuing police investigation or put the lives of the victims in danger. In addition, they should consider whether what they are writing is adding to public fear.
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