Senator Rand Paul Gets It Right on Overcriminalization | Overcriminalized.com Update

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October 5, 2012 Edition    |    Discover more at Overcriminalized.com and Rule of Law home page General Editor: Paul Larkin of the Center for Legal and Judicial Studies

Senator Rand Paul Gets it Right on Overcriminalization Thanks to the resolve of Senator Rand Paul (R–KY), IFSEA was removed from the Coast Guard Authorization Act. Senator Paul should be applauded for being concerned about overcriminalization, for practicing what he preaches, and for protecting the public against bad public policy. READ MORE >>

Overcriminalization: The Legislative Side of the Problem The past 75 years in America have witnessed an avalanche of new criminal laws, the result of which is a problem known as "overcriminalization." As the United States Congress refuses to stop new and unwarranted criminal laws, the key to curbing overcriminalization is the American public. READ MORE >>

Videos From NACDL: The Overcriminalization Problem  From National Review Online: Blind Justices

Legislative Update from Capitol Hill Follow links below to learn about laws pending in Congress that may perpetuate Overcriminalization NEW CRIMINAL LAW PROPOSALS S. 3569: Cloud Computing Act of 2012 H.R. 3598: Robert Matava Exploitation Protection for Elder Adults Act of 2012 UPDATES

See Full List of Pending Legislation >>

The Definitive Book on Why and How to Reform Criminal Law Available Now ABOUT OVERCRIMINALIZATION The Heritage Foundation and a coalition of public interest legal groups are committed to reversing the troubling trend of overcriminalization, which is defined by three attributes: 1. Federalizing crime that properly belongs under state and local jurisdiction; 2. Imposing criminal penalties upon persons who acted without criminal intent (mens rea); 3. Applying criminal sanctions to conduct that historically has not been considered wrongful. This Legislative Update includes bills our researchers have identified that add or expand federal criminal offenses or penalties, but it generally does NOT include bills involving drugs, firearms, or crimes of violence.

The Center for Legal and Judicial Studies at The Heritage Foundation Founded in 1973, The Heritage Foundation is the nation’s most broadly supported public policy organization. Heritage created the Center for Legal and Judicial Studies in 2001 to educate government officials, the media and the public about the Constitution, legal principles and how they affect public policy.