I agree that compassion is a huge aspect of the criminalization problem, which commonly is presented to induce fear and separation. I don't see the current system (especially with the advent of private prisons) being motivated in any way to ACTUALLY 'rehabilitate' those rightfully or wrongfully incarcerated. They make money by having more prisoners, so they are happy keeping those in prison there as well as having those released return. Typically those released don't have much money available, a job lined up, and simply told not to interact with the people they did before. Who else are they supposed to return to in the ideal hopes of stabilizing their life.

I also really like the part about 'there has to be a victim.' There are so many things that the state is the one charging the crime and not a victim, I believe all criminal cases are brought by the state itself. I view the severity of a crime being proportional to the amount of options you have removed from the 'victim.' In this sense murder is still one of the worst offenses since all future options are ceased upon death.

Then there is the fear and it's rampant. We've all heard the pitch of 'This law needs to be passed because THEY are coming for YOU!' While I'm willing to accept a rare case of this being true, the vast majority are unfounded and solely fear-mongering for their own personal or political gains. A perfect example of this are the slew of so called 'Religious Freedom Bills' that have been popping up over the last couple years, most of which frame the issue that Lesbian/Gay marriage is an affront to them that somehow demeans the relationship of somebody completely involved and unrelated while also demonizing the transgender population by implying that all trans people are in the bathrooms to pray on wives and children. Funny how we never hear the concern about trans-men being in the men's room.

Anyhoo, great post! :)