You may think that you’re completely innocent and always on the right side of the law, but chances are, you are guilty of committing an act that you may not realize is a crime. Not all crimes result in someone being hurt or suffering. There is a large subset of crimes that are considered victimless crimes.
Having a drink too many and driving getting home safely is still a DUI even if nothing bad happens. Crossing the street not at a crosswalk is called jay walking, and guess what – that’s still considered a crime. Buying and smoking weed in a state where it’s not recreationally or medically legal is a crime. Purchasing sex or selling yourself as a sex working, may be consensual, but that doesn’t make it legal. Another example is gambling when not in a sanctioned casino. The likelihood that you’ve engaged in one or more of these things is pretty high, even if you didn’t look at it as a criminal offense.
A victimless crime is an act that is illegal, but there is not a direct victim involved or harmed. Everyone participating in these types of crimes are acting willingly and voluntarily. The parties are typically consenting adults. Tis means there is no harm directly and specifically imposed upon another person and as a result, there is no victim.
Some of these crimes include:
- Prostitution
- Drug use
- Trespassing
- Traffic citations
- Public drunkenness
- Suicide
- Gambling
Each of these crimes can result in arrest, even if no one gets hurt. Though there is no identifiable victim, these offenses are usually against the values of a community or cultural norms. These types of crimes can vary from state to state and often the assistance of an experienced criminal defense attorney can make a huge difference in how a case is handled. If you believe you are being charged with for a victimless crime, give Russell Spatz a call at 305-442-0200 to see how he can help you through the process.