NCJ Number
115539
Journal
Police Journal Volume: 61 Issue: 4 Dated: (October-December 1988) Pages: 362-375
Date Published
1988
Length
14 pages
Annotation
Using examples both from the United States and Great Britain, this article identifies the problems in attempting to legislate against 'victimless crimes' in Great Britain.
Abstract
As defined by Schur, a 'victimless crime' is a 'willing and private exchange of strongly demanded yet officially proscribed goods and services; this element of consent precludes the existence of a victim in the usual sense of the word.' Some examples of victimless crimes are the consumption of alcohol and drugs, prostitution, abortion, homosexuality, gambling, and pornography. A review of the history of efforts to legislate against such activities in the United States and the United Kingdom shows the problems of enforcing such laws. To obtain evidence of the commission of victimless crimes, which are usually committed in private, the police must resort to invading privacy. In the United States, the electronic eavesdropping and entrapment cases which have come before the courts have involved attempts to obtain evidence on sexual, drug, and gambling offenses. Police officers have posed as drug users, homosexuals, and clients for prostitutes. Police efforts to suppress vice lead to the corruption and demoralization of police. Also, in an era of rising crime and scarce resources, the expense of enforcing victimless crime laws diverts resources from investigating and preventing more serious infractions of the law involving life and property. 38 footnotes.