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Everyone commits around three federal felonies a day, according to the premise of the book "Theee Felonies a Day" that I read a long time ago. We are all crimi

Everyone commits around three federal felonies a day, according to the premise of the book "Theee Felonies a Day" that I read a long time ago. We are all criminals and all do something "wrong" legally, all the time. The only difference is that the justice system focuses on some of us and not others, and the plea system harms most of those who are focused on, because any scrutiny at all can virtually always lead to an indictment. Just check the Skrelli incident for an example, or the whole Muller investigation. Virtually all those people would have escaped indictment had they just kept their heads down and avoided notice by justice officials.

blfr 8y ago
This is a real concern in politically- or publicity-motivated prosecutions. And it gives prosecutors a wide avenue to abuse their powers. But are these a significant per cent of cases that lead people to Rikers? I'm gonna guess no, they won't add up to even a single per cent.
- SomeHacker44 8y ago
  Just to be pedantic, Rikers, as I recall, is a state/city jail and not a federal prison. My personal belief is if the gov't wants you in jail, they can basically make it happen and only people with extreme resources may be able to belay that.
ataturk 8y ago
It just drives home the reality that we live in a police state where the government is far from a disinterested party--there is a power or profit angle to lording over the peasants. There always has been. Part of the Enlightenment was the concept of individual rights. We have been suckered into giving up most of them. There's always a reasonable sounding justification for everything government wants to do. But it's always a one-down relationship with government, always.
hopler 8y ago
That book was a huge exaggeration. It's central thesis was that most things that that are felonies are larger scale versions of minor acts (like battery is unwabtedt touching, so supposedly you could be convicted for bumping someone on a subway, and since the law accounts for mens rea, anyone could be party to a crime if the crime occurred and the judge/jury believe it was intentional. What's the alternative, to make any crime legal as long as the perpetrator has a partner and they both blame each other for being the mastermind? Your example of people who very clearly commuted major crimes, but could have avoided punishment, is the opposite of your thesis. very few people steal over a million dollars.
- Casseres 8y ago
  I just looked at the reviews on Amazon. One reader wrote, "If you're looking for everyday examples of the felonies you and I unwittingly commit each day, you won't find them here." I guess I won't be buying it.

blfr 8y ago

This is a real concern in politically- or publicity-motivated prosecutions. And it gives prosecutors a wide avenue to abuse their powers. But are these a significant per cent of cases that lead people to Rikers? I'm gonna guess no, they won't add up to even a single per cent.

SomeHacker44 8y ago
Just to be pedantic, Rikers, as I recall, is a state/city jail and not a federal prison. My personal belief is if the gov't wants you in jail, they can basically make it happen and only people with extreme resources may be able to belay that.

ataturk 8y ago

It just drives home the reality that we live in a police state where the government is far from a disinterested party--there is a power or profit angle to lording over the peasants. There always has been. Part of the Enlightenment was the concept of individual rights. We have been suckered into giving up most of them. There's always a reasonable sounding justification for everything government wants to do. But it's always a one-down relationship with government, always.

hopler 8y ago

That book was a huge exaggeration. It's central thesis was that most things that that are felonies are larger scale versions of minor acts (like battery is unwabtedt touching, so supposedly you could be convicted for bumping someone on a subway, and since the law accounts for mens rea, anyone could be party to a crime if the crime occurred and the judge/jury believe it was intentional. What's the alternative, to make any crime legal as long as the perpetrator has a partner and they both blame each other for being the mastermind? Your example of people who very clearly commuted major crimes, but could have avoided punishment, is the opposite of your thesis. very few people steal over a million dollars.

Casseres 8y ago
I just looked at the reviews on Amazon. One reader wrote, "If you're looking for everyday examples of the felonies you and I unwittingly commit each day, you won't find them here." I guess I won't be buying it.