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Criminal law |
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Elements |
Scope of criminal liability |
Severity of offense |
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Inchoate offenses |
Offense against the person |
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Sexual offenses |
Crimes against property |
Crimes against justice |
Crimes against the public |
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Crimes against animals |
Crimes against the state |
Defenses to liability |
Other common-law areas |
Portals |
Property damage (sometimes called damage to property), is the damage or destruction of real or tangible personal property, caused by negligence, willful destruction, or an act of nature. Destruction of property (sometimes called property destruction, or criminal damage in England and Wales) is a sub-type of property damage that involves damage to property that results from willful misconduct and is punishable as a crime.[1]
Destruction of property encompasses vandalism (deliberate damage, destruction, or defacement) and arson (destroying property with fire), and similar crimes that involve unlawful infliction of damage to or destruction of personal property or real property.[2]