The problem with so many laws is that they make so many of us criminals.  The problem with making so many of us criminals is that it dilutes real crimes and diverts resources from the enforcement of those crimes. 

I'll bet most of us could agree with those two statements.  The problem comes when we start to sort out the details.

If I don't wear a safety belt while driving my car, I might be stupid but am I a criminal?

Criminalization of society is the topic of a collection of essays from the CATO Institute:  In The Name of Justice.  The book contains reflections on Henry Hart's classic essay "The Aims of The Criminal Law".  You can read parts of the book online here.

The book was published in 2009 and I somehow missed it.  Read a review at The American Spectator.  Here is another review of the book.  Now I just need to locate Hart's essay.

Thanks to The Economist's cool books, arts and culture blog, Prospero.