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What are Non-Violent Crimes?

Non-violent crimes are those crimes that do not involve the use of any force or injury to another person.  The seriousness of a non-violent crime is usually measured in terms of economic damage or loss to the victim. 

Most non-violent crimes involve some sort of property crime such as larceny or theft.

What are Violent Crimes?

Violent crimes or violent offenses involve the use of force or injury to the body of another person.  The seriousness of a violent crime is usually determined by the degree of physical harm caused to the victim.  The use of a weapon can raise the seriousness of the crime. 

Some crimes are classified as violent crimes even if the plaintiff was not injured, for example crimes that involve the threat of injury to the person.  Also, the characteristics of the victim can alter the seriousness of the charges, for example, if a police officer, woman, or child was the victim of the violence.

What are Some Examples of Non-Violent and Violent Crimes?

Non-violent crimes can cover a broad spectrum of offenses.  They usually involve some sort of “property crime” resulting in damage to another person’s property. 

Some of the more common non-violent offenses may include: 

• Most property crimes, such as theft, embezzlement, and receipt of stolen goods, arson


• Fraud, tax crimes, other forms of white collar crime


• Drug and alcohol-related crimes


• Prostitution


• Racketeering and gambling


• Bribery

Violent crimes are also called “offenses against the person”, meaning that the physical body of another person was harmed.  Common violent offenses include:

• Assault and battery


• Homicides, including first/second degree murder and manslaughter


• Domestic violence


• Robbery (theft through the use of force)


• Sexual assault and abuse crimes


• False imprisonment

Some non-violent crimes are often raised to a level of violence.  For example, it is common for fraud, a non-violent crime, to involve some form of violence.  This can happen if the fraud was forced under threat of harm or coercion (i.e., forcing a person to sign a contract under threat of harm to them or their loved ones). 

From Legal Match