In ordinary language, a crime is an unlawful act punishable by a state or other authority. One proposed definition is that a crime or offence is an act harmful not only to some individual but also to a community, society or the state .
The notion that acts such as murder, rape and theft are to be prohibited exists worldwide. What precisely is a criminal offence is defined by criminal law of each country. While many have a catalogue of crimes called the criminal code, in some common law countries no such comprehensive statute exists.
If found guilty, an offender may be sentenced to a form of reparation such as a community sentence, or, depending on the nature of their offence, to undergo imprisonment, life imprisonment or, in some jurisdictions, execution.
Usually, to be classified as a crime, the “act of doing something criminal” must – with certain exceptions – be accompanied by the “intention to do something criminal” .
