I. The Issue

Thousands of harmless activities are now classified as crimes in the United States. These are not typical common law crimes such as murder, rape, or theft.  Instead they encompass a series of business activities such as importing orchids without the proper paperwork, shipping lobster tails in plastic bags, and even failing to return a library book.  There are over 4,000 existing federal criminal laws.  (The exact number of laws is unknown because the attorneys at Congressional Research Service who were assigned to count them ran out of resources before they could complete the herculean task.)

In addition to the profusion of federal statutory crimes, there are additional state crimes (Texas alone has over 1,700), and federal regulatory offenses (approximately 300,000). The creation of these often unknowable and redundant crimes, the federalization of certain crimes traditionally prosecuted at the state level, and the removal of traditional mens rea requirements all contribute to a relentless trend known as overcriminalization.

II. The Impact

Significant differences between criminal and civil law make criminal law an overly blunt instrument for regulating non-fraudulent business activities.  Whereas administrative rulemaking and civil proceedings may utilize a cost-benefit analysis to evaluate the conduct at issue, no such balancing occurs in criminal proceedings because, theoretically, criminal law covers only those activities that are inherently wrong.

Also, because criminal law is enforced entirely by state prosecution, it tends to minimize the role of the victim.  Indeed, the prototypical “regulatory” offense does not include anyone actually being harmed as an element of the offense.  Finally, civil and criminal law have traditionally been distinguished by the requirement that a criminal must have a guilty state of mind.  An increasing number of regulatory offenses nevertheless dispense with this requirement or require mere criminal negligence rather than intentional, knowing, or reckless conduct.

III. The Conservative Solution

• Stop creating new criminal offenses as a method of regulating business activities. Regulation is better handled through fines and market forces, not the heavy stigma of criminal sanctions

• Avoid licensing new occupations and revise laws to eliminate criminal penalties that are currently associated with many occupations.

• Ensure that an appropriate culpable mental state is included in the elements of all offenses.

• Return the responsibility for prosecuting and punishing traditional crimes to the states.

• Revise criminal laws to remove ambiguities and consolidate redundant laws to help prevent prosecutorial abuse.

Arresting the Growth of Criminal Law in Texas by the Texas Public Policy Foundation

Arresting the Runaway Growth in State Criminal Law by the Texas Public Policy Foundation

Big Brother on the Beat: The Expanding Federalization of Crime by Ed Meese in the Texas Review of Law and Politics

The Burden of Immigration Laws on Business by the Texas Public Policy Foundation

Criminal Law Checklist for Federal Legislators by the Heritage Fouondation, Texas Public Policy Foundation, Washington Legal Foundation, and National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Criminal Law Checklist for State Legislators by the Texas Public Policy Foundation

How Many Laws Did You Break This Week?: Overcriminalization in Colorado by the Independence Institute

Not Just for Criminals: Overcriminalization in the Lone Star State by the Texas Public Policy Foundation

Overextending the Criminal Law by the Cato Institute

Solutions for America: Overcriminalization by the Heritage Foundation

Time To Rethink What’s a Crime: So-Called Crimes are Here, There, and Everywhere by the Texas Public Policy Foundation

Without Intent: How Congress is Eroding the Criminal Intent Requirement in Federal Law by the Heritage Foundation and National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Working With Conviction: Criminal Offenses as Barriers to Entering Licensed Occupations in Texas by the Texas Public Policy Foundation

• FOCUS Act Debated in House Committee

  Posted in Overcriminalization, Priority Issues, ROC Blog: May 11, 2012 by Jeanette Moll

  This week, H.R. 4171, the Freedom from Over-Criminalization and Unjust Seizures Act of 2012, or the FOCUS Act, was heard in committee. This legislation is designed to restore the Lacey Act to its original purpose.

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• Criminal Law and Antitrust

  Posted in Overcriminalization, Priority Issues, ROC Blog: April 5, 2012 by Jeanette Moll

  At times, prosecutors have used the Sherman Antitrust Act for regulation via criminal penalty. The Act, as it stands today, begins…

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• “Big Brother on the Beat” by Ed Meese

  Posted in Overcriminalization, Priority Issues, ROC Blog: April 2, 2012 by Vikrant P. Reddy

  The Texas Review of Law & Politics has given Right On Crime permission to post a classic article from it’s inaugural issue in 1997. The article is by Right On Crime signatory Ed Meese, and it is titled “Big Brother on the Beat: The Expanding Federalization of Crime.”

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• There Ought Not Be a Law

  Posted in Overcriminalization, Priority Issues, ROC Blog, State Initiatives: March 15, 2012 by Jeanette Moll

  One of Right on Crime and the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s new projects is a series highlighting some of the most unusual examples of overcriminalization across the country. (You’ll see more on this project soon.) Our research on overcriminalization has long focused on the ever-increasing size and scope of…

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