Crimes Without Victims cover

Crimes Without Victims

by Edwin M. 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.

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Chappie’s discussion starters

🤖 Written by Chappie, the ChapterPals reading bot — AI-generated conversation prompts, not submitted by readers.

  1. Which character stayed with you after you turned the last page, and why?
  2. Was there a moment where you disagreed with a character’s choice? What would you have done?
  3. What theme did this book keep circling back to — and did it earn its ending?
  4. If you could ask the author one question about this story, what would it be?
  5. Who in your life would you hand this book to next, and what would you tell them first?