That being said, I don't think most people think too much about the problems in the justice system, or how much it costs to run it, or whether the taxpayers' money is being spent wisely.  Whether it's Peoria or Pittsburgh or East BumFk, most people aren't thinking about it until they or someone they know has an encounter with law enforcement and/or the courts that they find unfair.  

 But they do want to feel safe; they want to feel safe in their homes, and on the streets going about their daily lives.  They want justice when they are wronged - and they get sick of the system not being able to enforce things like child support, and that frustration leads them to want that SOB jailed even if he can't make any money there because they just want him to be punished for making his children suffer.  The courts can't get the guy a job, so they do the only thing they can do that responds in some way to the person making the complaint: they throw his butt in jail.

Yep.  Which is why when one is called "law & order type" or "crime warrior" (like those are bad things), it just makes me laugh. Really?  Doesn't everybody (except criminals, I guess) want to feel safe in their homes, in their neighborhoods, in their communities?  Doesn't everyone want criminals to pay for their criminal acts?  

No, many people don't want to lock people up for marijuana possession (and chances are very good that, someone isn't going to get locked up for possessing a joint anyways - but that's a great / fake argument that drug warriors like to keep repeating), but people certainly want the unsolved crimes to be solved and people (voters) in communities all over the country get outraged when things like budget cuts reduce or eliminate police.