Tag Archives: costs of overcriminalization

America’s Overcriminalization Problem

Originally posted to Bloomberg Law Insight by Brett Tolman | October 19, 2020 We have too many laws that can land someone in jail. Estimates put the number north of 300,000 federal statutes and regulations that can be criminally enforced, and the consequences of America’s addiction to criminalizing nearly everything are sobering—1 in every 4… Continue Reading

Too Many Laws Means Too Many Criminals

Originally published at National Review by Timothy Head & Matt Kibbe| 5/21/15
When three missing fish can land someone in jail on felony charges, reform is needed. ‘There is no one in the United States over the age of 18 who cannot be indicted for some federal crime,” retired Louisiana State University law professor John Baker told the Wall Street Journal in July 2011. “That is not an exaggeration.” Continue Reading

The Overcriminalization of America

riginally published at Politico by Charles G. Koch & Mark Holden | January 7, 2015
As Americans, we like to believe the rule of law in our country is respected and fairly applied, and that only those who commit crimes of fraud or violence are punished and imprisoned. But the reality is often different. It is surprisingly easy for otherwise law-abiding citizens to run afoul of the overwhelming number of federal and state criminal laws. Continue Reading