Wow, your initial description of the book sounded awesome. Whether it stems from charges of obstructing of justice, contempt of court, or destruction of evidence whose very possession of it itself is illegal, plea bargaining is always the most important tool in the. How the feds target the innocent, boston civilrights lawyer harvey silverglate argues that over the past several decades the federal government. The average professional in this country wakes up in the morning, goes to work, comes home, eats dinner, and then goes to sleep, unaware that he or she has likely committed several federal crimes that day.
Three felonies a day, or not the concept was fabulous. Three felonies a day is about how the federal government goes after professionals for activity that isnt really criminal. Harvey silverglate on three felonies a day youtube. Silverglates book, that the average american commits three felonies a. The betrayal of liberty on america s campuses harper perennial, 1999. This same emerging consensus was also the subject of an insightful. Americas criminal codes are now so voluminous that they bewilder not only the average citizen but also the average lawyer. The average professional in this country wakes up in the morning, goes to work, comes home, eats dinner, and then goes to sleep, unaware the he or she has likely committed several federal crimes that day. Three felonies a day is the story of how citizens from all walks of lifedoctors, accountants, businessmen,political activists, and othershave found themselves the targets of federal prosecutions, despite sensibly believing that they did nothing wrong, broke no laws, and harmed not a single person.
In a discussion on wamu radio yesterday, host kojo nnamdi noted that vagueness in the federal criminal law has recently made strange bedfellows of the political left and right. Three felonies a day audiobook by harvey silverglate. A scary book about the everexpanding reach of criminal sanctions for. Silverglate is the author of three felonies a day 3. How the feds target the innocent, is a frightening reminder that the federal justice system in this country seems to have picked up where the soviets left off. The volume of federal crimes in recent decades has increased well beyond. Silverglate reveals how federal criminal laws have become dangerously disconnected from the english common law tradition and how prosecutors can pin arguable federal crimes on any one of us, for even the most seemingly innocuous behavior. Sep 29, 2009 harvey silverglates new book, three felonies a day. Harvey silverglate, in his new book, three felonies a day, argues that the typical american professional is likely unaware that he or she.
Every day, the average american commits three felonies. Thanks to vaguely worded statutes and a huge federal criminal code, a creative prosecutor and bring charges up on virtually anyone no matter i decided not to finish this book, i made it a little over a third of the way through. We suffer from a combination of vague, expansive laws, the drug war, and. How the feds target the innocent, boston civilrights lawyer harvey silverglate argues that over the.
It challenges the honest law and order types who reflexively defend our system of law enforcement. If you are an average american, then you are a repeat felon. The wrong arm of the law dan kennedy opinion the guardian. How the feds target the innocent, in which he claims, according to the amazon blurb. Sep 28, 2009 former wsj publisher and yale law graduate gordon crovitz weighs in on this topic today in the wsj. Fourth installment in a fivepart series on silverglates book, three felonies a day. Jan 07, 2014 harvey silverglates three felonies a day.
Sep 01, 2009 three felonies a day is about how the federal government goes after professionals for activity that isnt really criminal. Does the average american unwittingly commit three. Harvey silverglate has written a book, three felonies a day. Harvey silverglate, author at the volokh conspiracy. Prosecutors can indict a ham sandwich, we hear, and laugh at the absurdity.
How the feds target the innocent criminal defense attorney harvey silverglate explains how the body of federal law. Former wsj publisher and yale law graduate gordon crovitz weighs in on this topic today in the wsj. Does the average american unwittingly commit three felonies a. The law offices of harvey silverglate, 607 franklin st, cambridge, ma, 029, united states. How the feds target the innocent three felonies a day is the story of how citizens from all walks of lifedoctors, accountants, businessmen, political activists, and othershave found themselves the targets of federal prosecutions, despite sensibly believing that they did nothing wrong, broke no laws, and harmed not a. Three felonies a day discusses a very troubling issue within the us justice system. How the feds target the innocent, is receiving a good bit of press. Even when his leftleaning views pop up hereandthere in three felonies a day, silverglate s knowledge and passion about the overcriminalization of america makes the book an overall worthy read. Oct 22, 2010 three felonies a day is a book worth reading. Dec 18, 2009 fourth installment in a fivepart series on silverglates book, three felonies a day. How the feds target the innocent is a horrifying haunted house of government malfeasance.
You commit three felonies a day in a book called three felonies a day, boston civil rights lawyer harvey silverglate says that everyone in the us commits felonies everyday and if the government takes a dislike to you for any reason, theyll dig in and find a felony youre guilty of. Three felonies a day, or not windypundit july 12, 2009 at 6. It also provides intellectual ammunition to those who argue that the federal government is badly out of control. From the perspective of both a legal practitioner who has represented the.
In his book, silverglate posits that federal criminal laws have become. The average professional in this country wakes up in the morning, goes to work, comes home, eats dinner, and then goes to sleep, unaware that he or she has likely committed several federal crimes that. The betrayal of liberty on americas campuses harper perennial, 1999. How the feds target the innocent encounter books, 2009 and the shadow university. Nov 14, 2012 every day, the average american commits three felonies. How the feds target the innocent 2009, civilliberties attorney harvey a. So argues civilliberties lawyer harvey silverglate in his new book three felonies a day, the title of which refers to the number of crimes he estimates that americans perpetrate each day because of vague and overly burdensome laws. From the perspective of both a legal practitioner who has represented the wrongfullyaccused. Be the first to ask a question about three felonies a day. Harvey silverglates book, three felonies a day, is cited on the rush limbaugh show guest hosted featuring harvey a. Jul 27, 2011 my books include three felonies a day. Nov 17, 2009 in an important new book, three felonies a day. Gordon crovitz has a good piece up at the wall street journal. Harvey silverglate, in his new book, three felonies a day, argues that.
Silverglate reveals how federal criminal laws have. Silverglate reveals how federal criminal laws have become dangerously. In his book, silverglate posits that federal criminal laws have become dangerously disconnected from. Harvey silverglates new book, three felonies a day. Im no lover of the way federal criminal law is handled, but i have my doubts that the federal government does go after innocuous conduct by ordinary people with the exception of a few. Civil libertarian attorney harvey silverglate begs to differ, and his newest book, three felonies a day. The volume of federal crimes in recent decades has increased well beyond the statute books and into the morass of the code of federal regulations, handing federal prosecutors an additional trove of vague and exceedingly.
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