A crime can be any act which is prohibited by law. Any action which has been labeled a crime can have punishment ranging from fines to imprisonment or even death. Crimes are labeled felonies for very serious crimes and misdemeanors for less serious crimes. Punishment for crimes varies greatly. A felony can result in a year or more of imprisonment, while a misdemeanor is generally punished with less then a year of incarceration, a fine or both a fine and imprisonment.
Murder is the intentional or unintentional act of killing someone. Murder is divided into categories depending on if the killing was intentional (pre-meditated) or unintentional.
Under criminal law, kidnapping is taking someone against their will. In many countries this will include holding the victim for ransom. This is relatively rare in the United where the Federal Bureau of Investigation places a high priority on solving these crimes. After the kidnapping has occurred the victim is usually held in confinement. The most common type of kidnapping in the United States is the non-custodial parent abducting their child with the intention of keeping them.
Rape is defined as unwanted and forced sexual intercourse. It can occur to men and women of all ages. Someone could be raped by a stranger, a family member, or a date. The rapist generally uses either violence or the threat of violence to perform the rape.
Assault is defined as the threat of physical harm or the act of physically injuring someone. Some states further define assault as aggravated assault if the assault occurs with the use of a deadly weapon.
Burglary occurs if someone enters a structure (does not have to be a residence) with the intent to commit a theft. This differs from robbery. No victim must be present and the trespasser does not have to break and enter illegally. The entry must be against the owner's desire and would not include someone such as a locksmith who has the permission of the owner to break in.
Arson is defined as setting fire and burning any type of structure intentionally. There could other charges file if another crime is committed in addition to the arson such as insurance fraud. If someone is injured or killed as a result of the arson additional charges could also be filed.