ABSTRACT
The criminal justice system is meant to produce law, order, and public safety. If police and other public employees successfully reduce crime rates and help citizens feel safe, then we might say that they have successfully done their jobs. But these public employees cannot lower crime rates alone. Rather than passively consuming the safety that police hopefully create, citizens either help or hinder the production of that safety. They can lock their doors and install burglar alarms to protect themselves from crime. They can call the police, report crimes, testify in court, serve on juries, and leave crime scenes untouched, therefore helping police enforce laws. They might also impede the police by refusing to call, refusing to testify, or tampering with evidence.
