A victimless crime is an illegal act that typically either directly involves only the perpetrator or occurs between consenting adults.
[1][2] Definitions of victimless crimes vary in different parts of the world and different law systems,[1] but usually include possession of any illegal contraband, recreational drug use, prostitution and prohibited sexual behavior between consenting adults, assisted suicide, and smuggling among other similar infractions.
[1][3] In politics, a lobbyist or an activist might use the term victimless crime with the implication that the law in question should be abolished.
Many victimless crimes begin because of a desire to obtain illegal products or services that are in high demand.
This inflation in price is believed to drive addicts to commit crimes such as theft and robbery, which are thought to be inherently damaging to society, in order to be able to purchase the drugs on which they are dependent.
In a poll taken by the Bureau of Justice Statistics between 1980 and 2009, "[over a] 30-year period...[arrest] rates for drug possession or use doubled for whites and tripled for blacks.
"[8] According to economist Walter Block, illegal immigration and emigration is a victimless crime from a libertarian perspective.
However, those who hold this position typically acknowledge the victimization that can occur to performers during production of non-fictional pornography.
[24] In contrast, there is the argument for restraining legal powers to allow citizens the freedom to make victimless personal choices that may or may not be perceived as morally wrong.