You're _contrasting_ "society" and "criminals". Well, criminals are part of society. Some of us are criminals (or if you like: Have committed, or will commit, c

You're _contrasting_ "society" and "criminals". Well, criminals are part of society. Some of us are criminals (or if you like: Have committed, or will commit, crimes). And - the extent of criminality in society is the result of policy (social policies in general and policing, prosecutorial and punitive policies in particular). The US has an incredible number of criminals (and jailed criminals). Some countries have more interpersonal violence, say, but less crime. Many (probably most) countries have a lot less of both. Also, you're implicitly assuming that the state is the instrument of society; but this is at most partly true. Finally, is criminality in the nature of some people? Is it a character trait? If it is not, then can we even answer your question? Is "deterrence" or "rehabilitation" (two common answers to your question) even meaningful? Especially when some acts or behaviors get de-criminalized, or criminalized, over time? Homoesexual relations; use of various substances; squatting real-estate; expressing different kinds of opinions; etc. So, yeah, I've shirked your question, but I really don't think it's a useful one the way you phrased it.