This distinction between civil and criminal law is universal in developed legal systems, though many ancient legal systems did not clearly draw it: murder for instance, was often a matter between the murderer and the victim's family. But even they provided for offences without any victim, such as violations of religious or sexual taboos (e.g. incest or bestiality), so even they recognized the distinction to some extent.
The exact acts prohibited varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction; nonetheless there is a common core of offences (e.g. murder, theft) criminalized everywhere, though the details may vary.
There is a frequently made distinction between mala in se and mala prohbita crimes. A mala in se crime is an act that is wrong in itself (e.g. murder), while a mala prohibita crime is a crime that is only wrong because the law prohibits (e.g. not wearing one's seatbelt).
Crimes can be divided into several (overlaping) categories: crimes against persons, crimes against property, crimes against state security, sexual offences, computer-related offences.
Crimes against persons include: homicide?, assault, kidnapping?, rape, robbery?
Sexual offences include: rape, child sexual abuse, incest, bestiality, indecent exposure and various categories of pornography involving children.
Crimes against state security are offences such as espionage?, treason and releasing information essential to national security. (Many non-democratic or semi-democratic countries use this term as a catch-all for crushing dissent.)
Crimes against property: trespass?, theft? and arson.
Computer related offences include such offences as computer hacking, overriding copyright protections on music, etc., electronic distribution of child pornography. See [Final Draft Convention on Cybercrime].
See also age of consent