Society typically agrees that crimes such as murder and rape should be illegal; however, other crimes (e.g., marijuana laws, prostitution) are not always agreed upon. When the criminal justice system...

Society typically agrees that crimes such as murder and rape should be illegal; however, other crimes (e.g., marijuana laws, prostitution) are not always agreed upon. When the criminal justice system enforces laws that are not universally agreed upon, the legitimacy of the system is called into question. Is it possible to have a consensus about what should or should not be illegal in a country with several hundred million adults from all races, ethnicities, cultures, religions, and walks of life?

How can we expect the criminal justice system to be viewed as working for all people in society if society itself cannot agree on what should be legal and illegal? Is the criminal justice system always going to be viewed as illegitimate by those who do not agree with the law?