Abstract
VICTIMLESS CRIMES INCLUDE DRUG ABUSE, PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS, PROSTITUTION, VAGRANCY, AND CERTAIN VOLUNTARY SEXUAL BEHAVIOR. MORE THAN ONE-THIRD OF ALL ARRESTS DURING 1975 WERE FOR VICTIMLESS CRIMES. A BREAKDOWN OF THAT CATEGORY AND THE NUMBER OF ARRESTS MADE FOR EACH CRIME ARE GIVEN. INDIVIDUAL FACT SHEETS ARE INCLUDED DEALING WITH PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS, GAMBLING, MARIJUANA USE, AND PROSTITUTION. THEY OUTLINE EFFORTS IN VARIOUS JURISDICTIONS TO DECRIMINALIZE EACH, RESULTS OF THESE EFFORTS, SUCH AS REDUCTION OF COURT COSTS AND POLICE MAN-HOURS INVOLVED IN MAKING SUCH ARRESTS, AND OTHER RELATED FACTS. STATEMENTS FROM THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON CRIME AND DELINQUENCY REGARDING DECRIMINALIZATION OF VICTIMLESS CRIMES ARE REPRODUCED, AS IS A NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE ON THE SUBJECT.
