--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you criminalize something, only…" description: "\"When you criminalize something, only criminals can deal with it. When criminals deal with it, there's no recourse to law, so there's only recourse to v..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8f/don-winslow-3586_crime_when-you-criminalize-something-only-crim_1042006.jpg" --- # When you criminalize something, only criminals can deal… ![“When you criminalize something, only criminals can deal with it. When criminals deal with it, there's no recourse to law, so there's only recourse to violence.” quote by Don Winslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8f/don-winslow-3586_crime_when-you-criminalize-something-only-crim_1042006.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8f/don-winslow-3586_crime_when-you-criminalize-something-only-crim_1042006.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8f/don-winslow-3586_crime_when-you-criminalize-something-only-crim_1042006.jpg) > “When you criminalize something, only criminals can deal with it. When criminals deal with it, there's no recourse to law, so there's only recourse to violence.” [Don Winslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-winslow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Criminalizing an activity pushes it into the shadows, where only criminals operate, leading to violence. **In simple terms:** Criminalization drives activity underground Key Takeaway Address root causes, not just punishment Themes law crime violence Mood thoughtful concerned Type policy inspirational When to use this quote - public health - drug policy - law enforcement - community safety Key Concepts social policy deterrence Questions to Reflect On - How can we reduce crime without increasing violence? - What alternatives exist to criminalization? A Different Perspective May ignore underlying social issues ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Criminalize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criminalize-1249174/) [Criminalize Criminals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criminalize-criminals-2441437/) [Criminals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criminals/) [Deal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deal/) [Deal Criminals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deal-criminals-2441438/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Recourse Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recourse-violence-2441439/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) ## Related quotes > [Government and state can never be perfect because they owe their raison d'être to the imperfection of man and can attain their end, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/government-and-state-can-never-be-perfect-because-they-owe-their/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [I think it's useful to recall that a lot of these statutes like 'disrupting the classroom' or 'disturbing the peace' have long been historically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/i-think-it-s-useful-to-recall-that-a-lot-of-these-statutes-like/) [Kimberle Williams Crenshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/) > [Prostitution will always exist in every society, so I believe in a fair trade. 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