victimless crime
Harmless legal violation
A victimless crime is an illegal act that harms no one except possibly the person committing it—drug use, prostitution, gambling, or public intoxication.
The term is often used to argue for decriminalization: Marijuana possession is a victimless crime.
Critics dispute the concept, arguing that such acts create indirect harm to families, communities, or the participants themselves.
Commercial sexual services
- gamblingBetting on uncertain results
- drug useConsuming intoxicating substances
- jaywalkingIllegal pedestrian crossing
- public intoxicationInebriation in shared spaces
sodomy laws · vagrancy · loitering · public nudity · polygamy · recreational drugs · home distilling · piracy
Persons legally able to agree
- black marketIllicit trading system
- civil disobediencePeaceful refusal to obey
- statuteEnacted written rule
- misdemeanorLesser criminal charge
infraction · citation · fine · arrest · prosecution · plea bargain · expungement · enforcement
Ending criminal status
- legalizationMaking something lawful
- overcriminalizationExcessive use of penal law
- nanny stateOverprotective government meddling excessively
- policy reformAmending governmental regulations
prison overcrowding · public opinion · civil liberties · individual rights · vice laws · prohibition · criminalization
Voluntary agreement given
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- self-ownershipExclusive bodily authority
- non-aggressionCommitment against hostile action
- personal libertyFreedom from external control
free will · individualism · self-determination · utilitarianism · moral relativism · paternalism · Mill · tolerance
prostitution
Commercial sexual services
- gamblingBetting on uncertain results
- drug useConsuming intoxicating substances
- jaywalkingIllegal pedestrian crossing
public intoxication · sodomy laws · vagrancy · loitering · public nudity · polygamy · recreational drugs · home distilling · piracy · surrogacy
consenting adults
Persons legally able to agree
- black marketIllicit trading system
- civil disobediencePeaceful refusal to obey
- statuteEnacted written rule
misdemeanor · infraction · citation · fine · arrest · prosecution · plea bargain · expungement · enforcement · police discretion
decriminalization
Ending criminal status
- legalizationMaking something lawful
- overcriminalizationExcessive use of penal law
- nanny stateOverprotective government meddling excessively
policy reform · prison overcrowding · public opinion · civil liberties · individual rights · vice laws · prohibition · criminalization
consent
Voluntary agreement given
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- self-ownershipExclusive bodily authority
- non-aggressionCommitment against hostile action
personal liberty · free will · individualism · self-determination · utilitarianism · moral relativism · paternalism · Mill · tolerance · subjectivism
victimless crimeviolent crime
Offense involving force or threat
property crime · theft · assault · robbery · murder
victimless crimeviolent crime
Offense involving force or threat
armed robbery · mass shooting · felony assault · terrorism · war crime
victim, victims, victimize, victimized, victimizing, victimization, victimhood, crime, crimes