It's how we talk about sentencing.
Notwithstanding his front-runner status in the 2024 GOP presidential primary race, Donald Trump is in a lot of trouble.
Unlike state criminal codes, the federal criminal code does not “grade” or subdivide most of its white-collar offenses. There is no such thing as first-degree fraud and second-degree fraud. There is just fraud—divvied up by the mechanism the fraudster happens to use, such as the mails or interstate wires.Although the federal code distinguishes the fraudster’s mechanism or her intended victim , it does not distinguish a fraud scheme’s severity or harm.
Many decades ago, there was a chance Congress might follow state legislatures in reforming its criminal code. Unfortunately, Congress instead chose to layer on a complex and confusing sentencing system while keeping its federal umbrella statutes intact. Over time, these umbrellas have only grown larger, more numerous, and more prone to high statutory maximums.
How can we fix this issue? First, we can stop creating more umbrellas. We have more than enough criminal statutes in our federal code to cover harmful and condemnable behavior. We don’t need new ones. Second, we can bring together a group of elected officials and stakeholders and charge them with the essential task of rewriting and grading our white-collar crimes. To be sure, the task would be difficult and generate heated debate.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
AI threatens blue-collar jobs, tooGenerative AI tools have been seen as a significant threat to many white-collar jobs for the past year, but blue-collar workers in manufacturing are at risk, too.
Read more »
Massachusetts shells ‘Turtleboy’ blogger with criminal charges in First Amendment fightA Massachusetts prosecutor charged a blogger known as 'Turtleboy' with witness intimidation, and he and his lawyer argue he's protected by freedom of speech.
Read more »
Portion of US 30 closed in Plainfield Township due to ‘criminal investigation:' Will County SheriffDrivers were advised to avoid a portion of U.S. 30 in unincorporated Plainfield Township on Saturday afternoon due to a “criminal investigation.” In…
Read more »
'Criminal investigation' underway in Plainfield, sheriff's office saysA criminal investigation is underway in south suburban Plainfield on Saturday, and it could cause traffic delays in the area, officials said.
Read more »
Glendale Heights armed robbery: 'Career criminal' from Chicago charged, denied pre-trial releaseA judge has denied a Chicago man pre-trial release after he allegedly robbed a suburban business at gunpoint earlier this year.
Read more »