Crime is a violation of a law established by a governing body. It disrupts societal order, harms individuals, and damages trust within communities.
Theft, fraud, violence. Crimes are measured by their direct impact on victims and their ability to undermine stability. Societies track crime while categorising offences by severity, intent, and consequence.
Not all offences against personal morality qualify as criminal acts. A rude comment, a broken promise, or a betrayal of trust might feel like a violation worthy of punishment, yet the law does not intervene. Society has long struggled with what should be legally punishable and what should remain private.
Punishment varies depending on the severity of a crime—fines, community service, probation, imprisonment, or even capital punishment in some regions. The justice system aims to balance retribution, deterrence, and rehabilitation. However, when the law remains silent, individuals often create and use their own “Personal Law.”
Take lying, for instance. There is no courtroom trial if a spouse deceives their partner, deliberately leading them into emotional or financial ruin. No judge delivers a sentence for that. But the betrayed often feel an injustice has been committed just the same. In response, they impose their penalties—exile, humiliation, revenge.
Society doesn’t prosecute dishonesty between partners, yet many consider it a crime of the worst kind.
This is where fiction thrives. The greatest crime stories emerge from these grey areas—where the law fails, but personal justice prevails.
Personal judgement and justice went into SEETHINGS. It’s a book written with my protagonist’s law in mind. Please read it. It’s downloadable and free for a limited time. It tries to right the wrongs of love and promises. Someone will be punished for crimes.
What offence have you experienced and wished to see punished? A broken heart? A stolen future? Please write to me in the comments section.
I’m waiting to read your law.
-M
Discover more from Michael Forman – Author of Dark Fiction & Drama
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.