From: Black Unicorn <unicorn@access.digex.net>
Date: Tue, 5 Sep 95 20:57:27 PDT
To: Lucky Green <shamrock@netcom.com>
Subject: Re: Growth of actions definded as crime. Which math formula?
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On Tue, 5 Sep 1995, Lucky Green wrote:

> Date: Tue, 5 Sep 1995 20:50:44 -0800
> From: Lucky Green <shamrock@netcom.com>
> To: cypherpunks@toad.com
> Subject: Growth of actions definded as crime. Which math formula?
> 
> With every session of Congress, previously legal acts become illegal. Has
> anyone worked out a function of this growth (number of crimes in the books
> vs. time)? I am not looking at the numbers of laws passed, but at
> individual acts that are defined to be illegal. If this has been studied,
> what is the formula? If anyone with access to more appropriate lists could
> please give me a pointer/forward the post there, I'd be grateful.
> 
> TIA,
> 
> -- Lucky Green <mailto:shamrock@netcom.com>
>    PGP encrypted mail preferred.

Really it's hard to answer this because what constitutes a "NEW" act is a 
real question in and of itself.

For example, wire fraud.  Is it a "NEW" crime?  Or just a subset of 
fraud, or mail fraud?

Carjacking... is that a new offense?  Or just a solidification and 
increase of punishment for armed robbery unauthorized use of a motor 
vehicle, possession of stolen property, and grand theft auto?

Check forgery now has it's own offense, but is this distinct from forgery?

Most "new offensives" are simply re-classifications of old offenses or 
efforts to move them into the federal arena.

I think the conception that entirely new acts are often made illegal 
(excepting burning the flag or some such) is an erronious one.


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