Book dossier

Crimes Without Victims

by Edwin M. Schur, E. M. Schur, Edwin Michael SCHUR

This book probes three social problems, raising fundamental questions about the definition of "deviance" and "crime." Each problem involves the willing exchange between consenting individuals of a desired product or service proscribed by law. This book shows that such laws, because there is no complaining victim, are unenforceable. Their very existence gives rise to secondary pathology, abortion rackets, blackmail, police corruption, and drug dealing. The author analyzes the impact of unrealistic laws on deviant behavior, and evaluates proposals for reforming these laws.