• Nevada laws are similar to the laws of many other states.Nevada state contour with Capital City against blurred USA flag image by Stasys Eidiejus from Fotolia.com
  
  Nevada's state government has established a criminal code outlining which offenses are crimes in that state. Crimes are separated into categories, depending on who or what is being harmed by the commission of the crime. Nevada criminal code covers the most obvious crimes, and also includes certain crimes that are perhaps outdated and obscure.
  
  

People

• Chapter 200 of Nevada State Law deals with crimes that harm "the person." Outlawed acts include homicide, bodily injury, assault and battery, kidnapping, sexual abuse, robbery, abuse or neglect of children, harassment and stalking, and viewing or creating pornography involving minors. Some other obscure crimes against people in Nevada include hazing, which is recklessly endangering someone as an act of initiation into a group, dueling and criminal neglect of patients or the elderly.
  
  

Public Decency

• Other crimes are considered to be against "public decency and good morals" in Nevada. In Chapter 201, crimes include the nonsupport of a child or former spouse, illegal abortions, paternity fraud, bigamy, incest, intentional transmission of HIV/AIDS, indecent exposure, desecration of flags, prostitution, trafficking human organs and gang recruitment. Other acts, which are perhaps less harmful but still considered criminal in Nevada, include obscene or annoying phone calls, performing sexual acts in public, performing obscene live shows, selling liquor during religious camp meetings and having a sexual relationship with a student, even if both are above the age of consent.
  
  

Health and Safety

• Underage drinking, serving or marketing alcohol or tobacco products to minors, smoking in prohibited areas, intentionally poisoning of food or medicine, illegally obtaining firearms, firing a gun in public, carrying concealed firearms without a permit, engaging in terrorism through dangerous materials--including weapons of mass destruction, lethal toxins, and even hoax toxins--and calling in bomb threats are all crimes against public health and safety, according to Nevada State Code Chapter 202. Perhaps some lesser known crimes in this category include the having doors public buildings swing inward--this is considered a threat to safety in cases of emergency, when large crowds are panicking and trying to escape--using laser pointers toward aircraft, leaving children unattended in a vehicle, having dangerous or vicious dogs and selling prescription eyeglasses without being authorized to do so.
  
  

Public Peace

• Under Chapter 203 of Nevada State Code, it is illegal to intentionally disturb the peace. This includes rioting, unlawful assembly, criminal anarchy, publishing materials that encourage such acts and forcible entry into certain areas with the intention of disturbing the peace. Some other, perhaps more questionable, crimes in this category include making loud or unusual noises and fighting in public.
  
  

Property

• Some crimes in Nevada are listed as crimes against property in Chapter 205 of State Code. This includes arson, home invasion/burglary, stealing, forgery, motor vehicle theft, buying/selling/receiving stolen goods, blackmail and extortion, fraud, identity theft, hacking websites, using another person's credit or debit card without permission, writing bad checks and refusing to pay for damages to the property of others. Other listed crimes include operating an audiovisual recording device in a movie theater, stealing shopping carts and unlawfully using hotel keys.
  
  

Public Justice

• Crimes under Chapter 199 of Nevada Statutes are acts against public justice. This includes corruption and bribery, busting criminals out of prison, lying under oath, falsifying evidence, contempt of court, impersonation of a police officer, conspiring to commit a crime and obstructing justice by impeding a criminal investigation. Less obvious crimes in this chapter include refusing to help a police officer make an arrest, convincing somebody not to report a crime and intentionally destroying legal notices.
  
  

State

• Finally, there are certain crimes that directly harm the state--they are categorized in Chapter 196. These includes treason, committing an act of war against the state, bribing public officials, abusing state-granted powers and attempting to influence members of the state legislative body. Also included is paying bribes to receive public appointment.