ORIGIN OF CRIME

The word crime is derived from the Latin root cernō, meaning "I decide,

I give judgment". Originally the Latin word crīmen meant "charge" or
"cry of distress." 

The Ancient Greek word κρίμα, krima, from which the

Latin cognate derives, typically referred to an intellectual mistake or an
offense against the community, rather than a private or moral wrong.

In 13th century English crime meant "sinfulness", according to

the Online Etymology Dictionary.

It was probably brought to England as Old French crimne (12th century

form of Modern French crime), from Latin crimen (in the genitive
case: criminis).

In Latin, crimen could have signified any one of the following:

“charge, indictment, accusation; crime, fault, offense”.

CONCEPTUAL DEVELOPMENT OF CRIME

 Crime always has been subject of keen interest.
 Crime is inevitable in society…
 Sociologist ---promoting social solidarity
 Emile Durkheim- even a society composed of persons possessing
angelic qualities would not be free from violations of the norms of
the society.
 Crime difference between and within societies overtime.
  There was no such distinction between crime and torts –in early
days.

The Oxford English Dictionary defines crime simply as: ‘An action

or omission which constitutes an offence and is punishable by law’.

The Oxford Dictionary of Sociology defines crime in a more complex

way: ‘an offence which goes beyond the personal and into the public
sphere, breaking prohibitory rules or laws, to which legitimate
punishments or sanctions are attached, and which requires the
intervention of a public authority.’

In this view, crime is defined as behavior that violates the criminal code.
Although this isn't suitable for criminologists of the criminal law (who
take law as problematic), it's by far the most common approach in
criminology, and it makes the field inherently conservative. It's
associated with the arguments made in 1947 by Paul Tappan ("Who is
the Criminal?" American Sociological Review 12,1, 96- 102) who was
responding to a challenge thrown down by the famous philosopher
Mortimer Adler. The legalistic approach in criminology believes in the
same principles of criminal law.
Definition of Crime: Legal approach
Stages of Crime:

1) Intention

2) Preparation

3) Attempt. It is direct movement of an Act towards execution of an Act after

preparation of the plan.

4) Accomplishment

Elements of Crime
1) Human being: Section 11 of IPC

2) Mens rea or Guilty intention

 3) Actus reus or illegal Act or omission

4) Injury : Section 44 of IPC