victimless crimes

Victimless crimes are illegal acts that lack a clearly identifiable injured party, typically involving consensual activities between adults or personal choices that primarily affect only the individual involved.

Common examples include drug use, prostitution, gambling, and certain traffic violations.

The term is often used by those who argue such laws represent government overreach, though critics counter that these activities do create victims—whether the participants themselves, their families, or society at large.

Advocates for decriminalization focus on victimless crimes as a starting point for reform.