In most cases, crime is defined as the violation of the law by a person or a group representing the subjects of the violated law. However, there is a wide variety of approaches to viewing crime, and hence there are several distinct definitions. These approaches include the interactionist view, the consensus view, and the conflict view. In all cases, the definition of crime is closely related to the law.
The interactionist view implies that the laws may be provided by groups of people who hold social power and consequently may influence legislation. In such regard, crime is defined by the authorities and reflects the preferences or the opinions of the “elite.” The consensus view states that the legislation is influenced by the common agreement of diverse forces in the society. It also implies that every group is equally able to impact the law and the definition of crime. The last approach is the conflict view, which means that the law is influenced by opposing forces and may not treat every social group equally. Laws are created under diverse circumstances and by different parties.
Therefore, I firmly believe that each of these definitions may be relevant. In some cases, the law may follow the interactionist view, whereas, in others, it may represent a result of social conflicts or consensus. It may significantly depend on the time and conditions which resulted in the emergence of a particular law.