One of the major objectives of the University Urban Interface Program (UUIP) at the University of Pittsburgh was to develop some long-range goals for the city of Pittsburgh to improve the community. This document is specifically concerned with law and order in the metropolitan area with regard to reforms needed in the machinery. If people were to make absolutely open the objectives that they wish the law and order machinery to serve, there would probably be 5 objectives: (1) deter people from committing offenses averse to the rights, property, and physical freedom of other people by making an example of the present offender; (2) protect other people from the present offender by putting him in jail or by using capital punishment; (3) provide some psychological satisfaction to the victims by imposing some obvious pain and suffering upon the offender; (4) actually making the offender himself a better person; or (5) provide a framework of reconciliation between people who are in conflict. This paper presents a discussion of crime and severe social conflict that the criminal law system is often called on to deal with; some major impediments in the history of criminal law improvement efforts; and some options for future consideration. (Author/HS)