Three Felonies a Day: How the Feds Target the Innocent

Three Felonies a Day examines how federal prosecutors have expanded their power through broad interpretations of complex regulations and vague criminal statutes. Attorney Harvey Silverglate demonstrates how ordinary citizens can unwittingly commit multiple felonies in the course of their normal daily activities. The book presents case studies of entrepreneurs, medical professionals, and other individuals who faced federal prosecution despite having no criminal intent. Silverglate draws from his decades of experience as a criminal defense lawyer to detail the mechanics of how prosecutors build cases using obscure laws. Through analysis of federal statutes and prosecutorial tactics, Silverglate reveals the scope of overcriminalization in the U.S. legal system. The text includes examination of laws like wire fraud, honest services fraud, and the RICO Act. The work raises fundamental questions about due process and the relationship between citizens and the state in an era of expanding federal criminal law. Its central argument about prosecutorial overreach connects to broader debates about American justice and liberty.

Most readers found the book's thesis compelling - that federal prosecutors can charge almost anyone with felonies due to vague laws. Many appreciated the detailed case studies showing how prosecutors targeted individuals who had no criminal intent. Readers liked: - Clear examples of prosecutorial overreach - Explanation of how complex regulations create legal traps - Analysis of how plea bargains pressure innocent people - Documentation of specific cases and outcomes Common criticisms: - Repetitive arguments and examples - Too focused on white-collar/corporate cases - Could be more concise - Limited solutions proposed Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (300+ ratings) Several readers noted the book changed their view of the justice system. One reviewer wrote: "Eye-opening look at how federal laws are used as weapons." Others found it "alarmist" and "overstated." Multiple reviews mentioned the book is more relevant today than when published in 2009.

Licensed to Lie by Sidney Powell Documents how prosecutors weaponize complex federal laws to convict targets through misinterpretation and overreach.

The Tyranny of Good Intentions by Paul Craig Roberts, Lawrence M. Stratton Traces the erosion of legal protections as prosecutors expand federal criminal laws beyond their original scope.

Go Directly to Jail by Gene Healy Examines the expansion of federal criminal law and its impact on ordinary citizens who unknowingly violate obscure regulations.

One Nation Under Arrest by Paul Rosenzweig, Brian W. Walsh Chronicles cases of Americans prosecuted under vague federal laws for actions they did not know were crimes.

The Rise of the Warrior Cop by Radley Balko Presents the transformation of law enforcement and prosecution through the expansion of federal power and criminalization of routine conduct.

📚 The book's title comes from the author's estimate that the average American unknowingly commits three federal felonies every day due to vague and complex laws. 🏛️ Harvey Silverglate co-founded the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), a non-profit organization defending civil liberties in academia. ⚖️ The book examines how prosecutors use the federal mail fraud statute and "honest services fraud" to criminalize ordinary business and political practices. 🔍 Silverglate spent three years researching actual cases where federal prosecutors stretched laws beyond their original intent to convict people who had no criminal intent. 💼 The author draws from his four decades of experience as a criminal defense and civil liberties lawyer, including cases he personally handled at Harvard University where he taught.