Crime

[Lat. crimen.'] An act committed or omitted, in violation of a public law, either forbidding or commanding it. 4 Bl. Com. 5. — A breach or violation of some public right or duty due to a whole community, considered as a community in its social aggregate capacity; as distinguished from a civil injury.* Id. ibid.

See Civil injury.

The violation of a right

when considered in reference to the evil tendency of such violation, as regards the community at large.

4 Steph. Com. 55. 1 Id. 127, 128.

In this sense, crimes include misdemeanours. In a narrower sense, a crime is distinguished from a misdemeanour, as being an offence of a deeper and more atrocious dye, [and usually amounting to a felony.] 4 Bl. Com. 5. See Felony, Misdemeanour. In New- York, the terms ** crime *' and "offence," have been declared to mean *' any offence for which any criminal punishment may by law be inflicted."

2 Bev. Stat. [702, § 32,] 687, § 33.

This definition has been adopted by Mr. Warren.

Law Studies, 355, (Am. ed.)