Law and order (politics)
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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In politics, law and order refers to demands for a strict criminal justice system, especially in relation to violent and property crime, through stricter criminal penalties. These penalties may include longer terms of imprisonment, mandatory sentencing, three strikes laws, and in some countries, capital punishment.
Supporters of "law and order" argue that incarceration is the most effective means of crime prevention. Opponents of law and order argue that a system of harsh criminal punishment is ultimately ineffective because it does not address underlying or systemic causes of crime.
"Law and order" is a recurring theme in political campaigns around the world. Candidates may exaggerate or even manufacture a problem with law and order, or characterise their opponents as "weak" on the issue, to generate public support. The expression also sometimes carries the implication of arbitrary or unnecessary law enforcement, or excessive use of police powers.
See also
- Back to Basics (campaign)
- Civil disobedience
- Culture war
- Ira Carmen
- Justice of the Peace
- Peace, order and good government (Commonwealth)
- Queen's peace (common law)
- Penal harm
- Penal populism
- Three-strikes law
- War on Drugs
- Wedge politics
- Zero tolerance
- Zucht und Ordnung
