The crimes covered in criminal law are wide and diverse, and typical of any particular state in the United States. What constitutes a crime in one US state may constitute an offense in another state, and the severity of punishing a crime in one state may be low or high compared to another state. But essentially,
what are the crimes that constitute a crime under the criminal law?
a. murder : Murder in this context indicates the intentional or unintentional act of depriving a person of his precious life. When you commit an act of killing someone, the circumstances and intentions notwithstanding, it is a considered a crime and covered in the criminal laws. No one is allowed to take the life of another and no one is allowed to put himself in a situation where the lives of others are at risk of death. Only the state or the government is vested with powers of life and death over any citizen in accordance with necessary laws.
b. Arson: Arson is the willful setting on fire of public property. Many people in antagonizing the government or in a bid to make their grievances known would set public facilities on fire. This is regarded as a crime and punishable under the relevant criminal laws.
c. Sedition: This implies the use of the media or any other informational means to incite the people against the government or the state, or the use of words and activities that are calculated to shed the rule and influence of the government over the people. Whatever you do, that has the capability or effect of minimizing the influence or authority of the state over its citizens is tantamount to sedition and it is one of the crimes covered in criminal law because this could lead to insurrection among others.
d. Tax evasion: Tax evasion is seen to be a crime in the United States and not an offense as it is regarded in some third world countries. In fact, evading tax in the US comes with a heavy penalty because it is regarded a crime against the nation and a crime against its peoples. The US uses taxes generated from businesses and individual citizens to provide economic, social and security infrastructures and a denial to pay it, is a denial to the progress of the state and the wellbeing of the people. Although no one would be executed for non-payment of taxes, defaulters could be jailed and his business forfeited; in fact, the government would bring ever weapon in its arsenal to fight anyone defaulting in taxes since the person would be seen as an enemy of the state.
The above are not exhaustive but there are several other crimes covered in criminal law but consulting with a criminal lawyer would open your eyes to them. Sometimes, a single act may constitute both a civil and a criminal act, and the law courts would first deal with either one of them to see that the offender answers for this crimes or offences.