Policy and News

Email Favorites Twitter Facebook

Political pressure to criminalize innocent conduct has proved difficult for most members of Congress, irrespective of party affiliation, to resist. The Heritage Foundation and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) have released a major study with several concrete proposals for reform. One reform would require Members of Congress to provide written analysis and justification for all new and modified federal criminal offenses and penalties.

For a list of all federal statutes from 2000 through 2007 that containing new crimes, view this report by John S. Baker, Jr.

H.R. 2095: Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008
The Act increases criminal fines for recordkeeping violations and creates an offense, punishable by a year in prison, for impeding a safety investigation.

H.R. 6353: Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2008
It creates the offense of distributing or aiding in the distribution of medicines through the Internet by unlicensed pharmacies.

S. 431 Keeping the Internet Devoid of Sexual Predators (KIDS) Act of 2008
The Act requires sex offenders to register any e-mail address, instant message address, or other identifier used for internet communication.

S. 3598 Drug Trafficking Vessel Interdiction Act of 2008
The Act establishes a criminal offense for operating or attempting to operate a submarine without nationality that has passed over international boundaries.

S. 3023: Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2008
The Act makes a crime of charging a military member interest on a debt at a rate higher than 6% per year for debts incurred before or during the member's military service.

For additional legislation, go to Overcriminalized.com's Legislative Update section.