Natural Crime Vs. Legal Crime

Natural Crime vs. Legal Crime

University of Phoenix

Crime is generally divided into two specific categories under the law. These two categories are natural crime and legal crime. The concept of a "natural crime" is that the crime is wrong in itself. The concept of a "legal crime" is that the crime is wrong only because the crime is prohibited by law. When these two concepts are contrasted and compared only one major difference exists. These two categories of crime are used throughout the criminal justice system, that even the Federal Bureau of Investigations utilizes them.

According to the Provider of Choice Website (2006), crime is an act that violates political or moral law of any person or group. Crime is commonly divided into two general categories, natural crime and legal crime. These two concepts distinguish if the crime is a crime resulting from human nature or from congress. One of the two general categories that crime is divided into is the category of a natural crime. Another term used for natural crimes is mala in se crimes; mala in se means wrong in its nature. According to K.W. (2008), natural crimes are criminal actions that are understood to be immoral and unacceptable to society. Natural crimes can also be defined as acts that are naturally evil or bad. The other category that crimes are divided into is legal crime. Legal crimes are acts or offenses that are a direct violation of the law (K.W., 2008). Another term used for legal crimes is mala prohibita; which means wrong only because it is prohibited by law. Legal crimes are also described as actions or behaviors that are against what is best for society.

When comparing and contrasting the concept of legal crime and natural crime, the difference can be difficult to see. A natural crime is something which is known to be harmful to an individual and or society, but is not necessarily a violation of an established criminal law (K.W., 2008); whereas, legal crimes are a direct violation of criminal law or regulations, but may not be harmful to an individual or society. Legal crimes are not necessarily evil or wrong, but they have been identified as unacceptable act by society and now have a law that prevents individuals from performing those acts or behaviors. The major difference between the two concepts being, that natural crimes are morally and ethically a violation and legal crimes are a direct violation of the law.

The Uniform Crime Reporting Program is a source of crime information compiled by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) each year (Robinson, 2005). This data was collected because of the need to gather and distribute national crime statistics. The Uniform Crime Reporting Program's Crime Index is composed of selected offenses used to measure the changes in the volume and rate of crime reported to law enforcement. This report separates crimes into two categories, Part I and Part II. Part I includes more serious crimes. According to the Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigations Website (2002), the offenses that make up the Crime Index with the Part I crimes, include violent crimes of murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault and the property crimes of burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, arson and hate crimes. Part II is made up of simple assaults, forgery and counterfeiting, fraud, embezzlement, buying, receiving and possession of stolen property, vandalism, prostitution and commercialized vice, sex offenses, drug abuse violations, gambling, offenses against family and children, driving under the influence and liquor law violations. Part II also includes drunkenness, disorderly conduct, vagrancy, curfew violations and loitering and running away (Robinson, 2005).

The crimes that are on the Uniform Crime Reporting