Legislation as a Source of Crime

Largely ignored in discussions of the criminal justice system are the lawmakers—the city, county, state, and federal officials—who enact the laws intended to govern daily life and promote conformity within society. The work of most is driven by the best of intentions. However, even the noblest legislators lack the ability to see into the future—to predict the unintended and often deleterious consequences that surface once a proposal becomes law. Of added concern are the elected officials who, unknown to many, are blatantly self-serving. Unscrupulous, yet both persuasive and charismatic, these individuals all too often successfully lobby for laws that prove to be self-benefiting in nature while exploiting the already disadvantaged in society.

Technological advances, cultural change, and historical events have forever altered life not just in ...