Which of the following is a criminal offence?

• A. Trespassing
• B. Arson
• C. Littering
• D. Jaywalking

Answer: (B)

Understanding what makes something a criminal offence involves looking for acts the law punishes with official penalties because they threaten safety or property, often with intent or recklessness. Deliberately setting fire to property, or doing so with reckless disregard for life, is illegal in essentially all jurisdictions and carries serious criminal penalties because it endangers people and damages property. The other behaviours tend to be handled differently: trespassing is usually a civil matter (or a minor offence in some cases), littering is typically an environmental/public nuisance offence with fines, and jaywalking is a traffic-related violation in many places rather than a full criminal offence. In this context, arson stands out as the criminal offence.