Criminal Justice Practice Exam

Drug possession for personal use is considered a crime that does not have an identifiable victim because it typically involves an individual who is using substances for their own consumption rather than harming another person directly. In this situation, the action is primarily affecting the individual themselves, as their possession and use do not pose a direct harm to others in the same manner that crimes like assault, robbery, or murder do.

In contrast, crimes such as assault and battery involve direct confrontation and harm to another individual, making the victim readily identifiable. Similarly, robbery entails taking possessions from another person through force or threat, clearly establishing the presence of a victim. Murder, the unlawful killing of another person, obviously involves a victim as well. In essence, drug possession for personal use stands apart because it is primarily a regulatory or public health issue rather than one that directly harms or victimizes another individual.