Legal Literacy- Criminal law is one of the most important branches of law in the Indonesian justice system. In criminal law, there are various types of offenses that play an important role in determining whether someone has violated the law or not.

In this article, we will review the different types of offenses in criminal law and provide a deeper understanding of each of them.

Types of Offenses in Criminal Law

Here are some types of offense in criminal law that must be known:

Criminal Offenses and Misdemeanors

Crimes and offenses are the two main categories in criminal law. Criminal offenses, or often called"rechtdelicten," are offenses formulated in Book II of the Criminal Code (KUHP). On the other hand, offenses, or"wetdelicten," are formulated in Book III of the Criminal Code. Criminal offenses often include acts that are considered anti-social behavior by society, while misdemeanors are acts that become criminal because they are regulated by law. For example, Article 303 and Article 344 of the Criminal Code are included in criminal offenses, while the use of this term does not always reflect the truth, because there are actions that are only considered crimes because they are regulated in law.

Formal and Material Delicts

A formal offense is a type of offense that emphasizes the prohibition of an act. For example Articles 160, 209, 210, 242, 263, and 362 of the Criminal Code are formal offenses. On the other hand, material offense is a type of offense that emphasizes the consequences of an act. If the result does not occur, the act is only considered an attempted criminal offense. For example Articles 187, 378, and 338 of the Criminal Code are examples of material offenses.