ABSTRACT
In the United States, Part I offenses include murder and non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, burglary, theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. Imbedded within these official categories are offenses that dominate the news including mass shootings, rapes and other sex offenses, various forms of cybercrime, crimes associated with the opioid crisis, and white-collar crimes including political corruption. Part II offenses include all other lesser crimes such as forgery, passing bad checks, petty theft, simply assault, drunk driving, and public-order offenses. Despite the differences among these offense types, many represent attempts by perpetrators to exploit their victims, that is, to take something to which they are not entitled. Many violent offenses represent attempts to retaliate for a real or perceived transgression. Both exploitative and retaliatory crimes violate social norms governing fairness.
