Final answer:
Piracy is the exception to the territoriality rule in criminal law, as it is a crime against the international community and can be prosecuted by any nation, unlike theft and assault, which are usually confined by jurisdictional boundaries.
Step-by-step explanation:
The exception to the territoriality rule in criminal law refers to crimes that are prosecuted outside the jurisdiction where they were committed. Among the options given, piracy is the crime that is an exception to the territoriality rule in criminal law. Theft and assault are generally prosecuted by the country where the crime occurred, following the principle of territoriality. However, piracy is typically considered a crime against the international community and can be prosecuted by any nation, not just the one in which the act occurred or the nationality of the perpetrator.
International law and the principle of state sovereignty recognize certain universal crimes, like piracy, that transcend national borders, allowing any state to apprehend and prosecute those accused of this crime on the high seas. This concept is distinct from conventional crimes like theft and assault, which are typically confined by jurisdictional boundaries and the territoriality rule.