Which statement best describes offenses that are considered 'public crimes'?

• A. Public crimes are offenses against the sovereign or the people.
• B. Public crimes are offenses against private individuals.
• C. Public crimes are only about property.
• D. Public crimes have no standard of proof.

Answer: (A)

Public crimes are offenses that injure the public or the state, not just a private party. The government prosecutes on behalf of all society—the sovereign or the people—because the harm is to public order and welfare, even when a private individual is the direct victim. That’s why crimes like murder or burglary are treated as public crimes; the state brings the case to protect the community as a whole.

The other ideas miss this broader focus. Some offenses can affect private individuals directly, and public crimes aren’t limited to property; many involve people or public safety. And in criminal cases there is always a standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt, not no standard at all.