Types of Criminal Offenses

Task I. Read the text and give the paragraphs headings from among the ones below:
• Financial and other crimes (white-collar crimes)
• Inchoate Crimes
• Personal Crimes
• Property Crimes
• Statutory Crimes

Task II. Put the specific names of crimes in gaps within the text
▪ attempt ▪ Public Intoxication
▪ domestic abuse ▪ shoplifting
▪ embezzlement ▪ vehicular homicide
▪ hit-and-run
Although there are many different kinds of crimes, criminal acts can generally be divided into five primary
categories. We describe them below:

1. _________________
These are those crimes that result in physical or mental harm to another person. They can be divided into two main
categories, forms of homicide and other violent crimes. Where the physical harm to another individual is so severe
that it causes death, a defendant may be charged with any one of several types of homicide, including, for
example, first-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, or ________________ . Conversely violent crimes, which
are also very severe, include:
▪ assault and battery
▪ arson
▪ child abuse
▪ ____________________________
▪ kidnapping
▪ rape and statutory rape

2. ______________________________
These crimes typically involve interference with the property of another. Although they may involve physical or
mental harm to another, they primarily result in the deprivation of the use or enjoyment of property. Many property
crimes are theft crimes, including burglary, larceny, robbery, auto theft, and ________________.

3. ___________________________
These crimes refer to those crimes that were initiated but not completed, and acts that assist in the commission of
another crime. They require more than a person simply intending or hoping to commit a crime. Rather, the
individual must take a “substantial step” towards the completion of the crime in order to be found guilty. These
crimes include aiding and abetting, _____________, and conspiracy. In some cases, they can be punished to the
same degree that the underlying crime would be punished, while in other cases, the punishment might be less
severe.

4. _____________________________
These include those crimes, in addition to the crimes discussed above, which are proscribed by statute. Three
significant types are alcohol related crimes, drug crimes, traffic offenses, and financial/white collar crimes. These
crimes are specifically prohibited by statute because society hopes to deter individuals from engaging in them.
Alcohol-related crimes include a variety of offenses regarding how and where alcohol can be consumed, such as:
▪ Driving Under the Influence (DUI/OWI/DWI)
▪ Open Container Violations
▪ Minor in Possession of Alcohol
▪ _________________________________
▪ Underage DUI
▪ Boating DUI
▪ Selling and Supplying Alcohol to Minors
 ▪ Refusing to Perform a Field Sobriety Test
▪ Refusing to Perform a Breathalyzer or Provide a Blood Sample

Drug crimes concern any involvement in the creation or distribution of drugs, including drug possession, drug
manufacturing, and drug trafficking. One area of criminal law that is currently receiving a great deal of attention is
the regulation and prosecution of drug crimes related to medical marijuana.

Traffic offenses include crimes that may arise while an individual is driving a vehicle on public roadways. Because
a DUI/OWI/DWI involves both alcohol and the use of a vehicle, it is considered both an alcohol related crime and a
traffic offense. Additional traffic offenses include driving on a suspended or revoked license, driving without a
license, _____________ accidents, reckless driving, and vehicular assault. Where a traffic offense results in death, it
can be charged as a far more serious crime, such as a form of homicide.

5. _______________________________
Finally, financial crimes often involve deception or fraud for financial gain. Although they derive their name from the
corporate officers who historically perpetrated them, anyone in any industry can commit this kind of crime. These
crimes include many types of fraud and blackmail, ______________ and money laundering, tax evasion,
and cybercrime.

Task III – With a partner choose 3 example crimes and prepare short news reports reporting on events involving
them.

Task IV. Prepare definitions of 5 of the crimes which do not include their names. Present your definitions to the class
to guess which crimes you mean.

Task V. Pronunciation – Choose 10 crime names which are difficult to read for you and check their pronunciation in
an internet dictionary. Then write sentences using them. Record yourself reading these sentences.

Task V. Complete the table:

verb noun In Polish
To commit a crime A c___________ of crime

To r___________ in sth A result of sth

To interfere with sth An i___________ with sth

To deprive sb of sth A d__________ of sb of sth

To enjoy sth An e_________________ of sth

To complete sth A c_________________ of sth

To a__________ in sth An assistance in sth

To d__________ sb from sth A deterrence of sb from sth

to i_____________ sb in sth an involvement of sb in sth

To deceive sb A d________________ of sb

to _______________ sth a perpetrator of sth