Is there a universal definition of a crime? .. I am starting to read Smith and Hogan's Criminal Law, which is of course, not the law of Dhamma, but a common law from one island in Europe. This is the title of the first chapter, but it makes me think. I am interested whether there is a parallel within Buddhist law.. at the very least, given that legal systems should be comparable, I think the question is worth asking! :)

So, what delineates a crime within Dhamma/Buddhism?
tort /tɔːt/ Learn to pronounce nounLAW 
  
  a wrongful act or an
  infringement of a right (other than under contract) leading to legal
  liability.
  
  "public nuisance is a crime as well as a tort"
  
  
  
  What is negligence?
  
  Negligence is a failure to take reasonable care to avoid causing
  injury or loss to another person. There are four steps in proving
  negligence. The plaintiff must prove:
  
  
  that there is a duty in the circumstances to take care duty of care
  that the behaviour or inaction of the defendant in the circumstances did not meet the standard of care which a reasonable
  person would meet in the circumstances (breach of duty)
  that the plaintiff has suffered injury or loss which a reasonable person in the circumstances could have been expected to foresee
  (damage)
  that the damage was caused by the breach of duty (causation).
  
  
  
  
  Whenever you want to do a bodily action, you should reflect on it:
  'This bodily action I want to do — would it lead to self-affliction,
  to the affliction of others, or to both? Would it be an unskillful
  bodily action, with painful consequences, painful results?' If, on
  reflection, you know that it would lead to self-affliction, to the
  affliction of others, or to both; it would be an unskillful bodily
  action with painful consequences, painful results, then any bodily
  action of that sort is absolutely unfit for you to do
  
  MN 61
  
  
  
  The kings are informed of someone’s bad deed: ‘While under the
  influence of alcoholic drinks that cause negligence, this person
  murdered a woman or a man. Or they stole something from a village or
  wilderness. Or they had sexual relations with women or maidens under
  someone else’s protection. Or they ruined a householder or
  householder’s child by lying.’ Then the kings have them arrested for
  being under the influence of alcoholic drinks that cause negligence,
  and execute, imprison, or banish them, or do what the case requires.
  Have you ever seen or heard of such a case?
  
  Sir, we have seen it and heard of it, and we will hear of it again.
  
  AN 5.178