History Main / LegalizedEvil

[[caption-width-right:350:When Evil has the Law on its side.]]

->''"Once something has been approved by the Government, it's no longer immoral!"''

In most societies, there are [[CourtroomIndex rules and laws to enforce and maintain proper behaviors]]. There are [[CodeOfHonour ethics and codes of conduct]] that are considered acceptable and those that are not. Murder isn't just morally wrong, it's against the law, and any just society's legal system will be after you if you try it.

However, what happens when something contemptible in a society is considered legal by a society's ruling authority? What happens when evil people have the law on their side, or at least their immoral deeds aren't unlawful? What happens when acts of immorality have legal backing and legitimacy? What if the legislative body decrees that arson is permitted on second Tuesdays, people named Bob are given two free passes for murder, and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking no cop is allowed to write tickets for jaywalking]]?

Legalized Evil is a situation where an evil or moral wrong is actively overlooked and permitted by the law of the land of a setting. ValuesDissonance may be in play, but the trope requires that the characters in a setting acknowledge the acts that are legalized are morally wrong or improper [[EveryoneHasStandards even by their own standards]]. Often this trope occurs in authoritarian settings where a form of AnarchoTyranny is in place or societies where DystopiaJustifiesTheMeans or DespotismJustifiesTheMeans under a corrupt authority. In a CrapsackWorld where this trope is seen as a "good thing", expect it to be the LesserOfTwoEvils in comparison to some form of complete societal collapse.

Often the purpose of the trope is ToCreateAPlaygroundForEvil, which is similar but does not require a ruler, as well as OutlawTown and TotalitarianGangsterism, which are often side-effects of this trope coming into place when immoral figures become the ruling authority over otherwise morally superior masses. Also a possible factor in ViceCity and WretchedHive, where the majority in the setting are evil and happy to get away with it. The CorruptBureaucrat will certainly be involved, as will the ObstructiveBureaucrat. AristocratsAreEvil may be in play if the setting is a monarchy, or CorruptCorporateExecutive in a capitalist setting.

Compare and contrast TheBadGuysAreCops, when the laws might not be evil but law enforcement is. Also compare and contrast InherentInTheSystem, where evil isn't the overt goal of the system but is still necessary for it to function.

If the majority in the setting doesn't see the actions in question as evil, that's ValuesDissonance or BlueAndOrangeMorality. If an evil deed is legal only on a technicality, rather than specifically permitted, that's just regular LoopholeAbuse.

* In ''Film/ThePurge'', a sinister group called the "New Founding Fathers" have taken over the United States and established an annual nationwide event where most crime, up to and including first-degree mass murder, are legal for a 12-hour period while emergency services are illegal (or enjoying the purge), which began as a way to [[KillThePoor persecute the homeless and other vulnerable people]] and to maintain their grip on power by terrorizing everyone else. Naturally, The Founding Fathers and their allies are still protected by the law under the purge and are protected by armies of security personnel. In the third film, they allow Purgers to kill elected officials and nominees in order to publicly assassinate an opposing presidential candidate. [[KarmicDeath This bites them in the ass when the resistance unleashes their decades-long plans to purge the upper ranks legally]]. In the fifth film, they succeed at destroying America [[HoistByHisOwnPetard but are subsequently (and permanently) ruined by the lawless hellhole they created]].

* Downplayed in the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' series when it comes to theft. Though the ruling authorities dislike it, the city of Ankh-Morpork ''sorta'' legalized thievery, but only for members of the ThievesGuild, who have limits on how many robberies, muggings, etc. they can do in a year, and each victim gets a receipt and is entitled to go a certain amount of time until they get robbed again by the Guild. Unlicensed thieves are still illegal, and probably pray that the police catch them instead of the Thieves' Guild, since the Guild is murderously protective of their privilege to commit theft with permission under the law.

* ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'': In "The Return Of The Archons", the brainwashed inhabitants of the planet Beta III are usually [[StepfordSmiler perfectly peaceful and orderly citizens]], but they have a regular event called "Festival" authorized by the planetary ruling authority in which the entire population suddenly erupts in a twelve-hour outburst of sex and violence they would not otherwise commit. It's not stated what function this serves their society, although the novelization suggests it may be a temporary outlet for their normally suppressed emotions and drives and/or a form of population control.

* In ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'', during the Cardassian occupation of Bajor, Cardassians could not only kill Bajorans with impunity under Cardassian military law, but take random Bajoran women as [[SexSlave "Comfort Women"]] and discard them at their leisure.

* Demonstrated in ''TabletopGame/{{Traveller}}'', Classic Adventure 3 ''Twilight's Peak''. Each year, the planet Rethe has a government holiday called Festival, during which all laws are suspended planetwide for three days. During that period, anyone can commit any crime they wish and not have to worry about being prosecuted after Festival ends.

* In some civilizations of ''VideoGame/DwarfFortress'', ethics settings could allow actions such as murder, theft and cannibalism to not only be lawful but even ''praised''. In the vanilla version, only treason is a crime among Goblins, all other horrid acts being permitted and accepted under Goblin law.
* In ''VideoGame/TheGuild 3'', it is possible to get into the government of your region and legalize the same ThievesGuild jobs that would have previously been risky to partake in. This was mercilessly exploited in a video by WebVideo/TheSpiffingBrit.

* Demonstrated in the ''WesternAnimation/LoveDeathAndRobots'' world of the short "Pop Squad". Humanity has achieved immortality, which means the population can only increase, stretching resources thin and straining society as a whole. To this end, breeding has been outlawed by the worldwide governments and legalized hit squads are established to stamp out any occurrences of breeding (legalized homicide). The titular police squad's job is to hunt down those who have broken this law and [[spoiler: execute the resulting offspring.]]
* In the ''WesternAnimation/BoJackHorseman'' episode "Feel-Good Story", it is revealed that billionaires are legally allowed to murder without consequence in America, allowing CorruptCorporateExecutive Jeremiah Whitewhale to murder a worker for [[DisproportionateRetribution taking too many bathroom breaks]]. Apparently, both major parties agreed on the bill without much issue.

* In ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'', crime seems to be permitted on a planetary scale, considering how [[BigBad Aku]], ([[EvilOverlord the demonic king of Earth]]), runs his evil empire. Instead of a totalitarian regime where everything is strictly monitored and controlled, Aku allows the whole world to be consumed by an endless state of violence and warfare in which all sorts of villains, warlords, criminals, and monsters run rampant and terrorize innocent people as they please with full permission under his authority. Aku even has his minions escort new criminals to parts of Earth that are relatively peaceful to be destroyed once they arrive as government policy. The normal citizens of Aku's empire are either miserable and actively despise the way their society is run or just reached TooBleakStoppedCaring status and don't have any care to change a way of life they acknowledge has been corrupt for millennia.

-->''"Sometimes bad guys make the best good guys"''

[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/legalized_evil1.jpg]]]]

* ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'': Demonstrated in the episode [[Recap/ThePowerpuffGirlsS3E4BubblevisionBoughtAndScold "Bought And Scold"]], where SpoiledBrat Princess Morbucks convinces her dad to buy the entire city and make her mayor, and her only command is to declare that "Crime is Legal" (with a printed document for criminals to show off in the page image). Morbucks plunges the city into chaos purely to spite the Powerpuff Girls, who she threatens to throw in jail if they try and stop any criminals from doing any immoral acts they would otherwise be punished for. This bites Princess in the butt when ''she'' gets robbed and, as the girls note when they're summoned, there's nothing they can do since the theft ''was perfectly legal'', thus forcing Princess to re-illegalize crime to get her stuff back. [[spoiler:Turns out the girls themselves were the thieves in an effort to force Princess to change the law back and get the old mayor his job back]].

->''Once something has been approved by the Government, it's no longer immoral!''

* In ''Series/{{Gotham}}'', this is the central plot of "[[Recap/GothamS4E1PaxPenguina Pax Penguina]]", where Penguin’s solution to restoring order to Gotham is to reduce crime by legalizing it. This “Pax Penguina” system dictates that criminals who carried a Licence of Misconduct, were able to commit crimes and be exempt from being investigated or arrested by the GCPD.

** Vilgax’s first plan in ''Alien Force'' involved exploiting a Galactic law to legally conquer planets, where he issues a challenge to a planet’s champion and upon victory would give him conquest of said planet that avoids a war. Of course after Ben defeats him the first time, he keeps coming back to illegally attack the Earth.
** Vulkanus uses a tonne of Taydenite to purchase the rights to reform Earth, complete with a legal document. Course the heroes still won’t allow him to turn their planet into a molten wasteland.

* How {{Hell}} is run in ''WebAnimation/HazbinHotel'', as Lucifer is theoretically in charge ([[AsskickingEqualsAuthority because he can do horrible things to anyone who defies him]]) but the only laws canonically confirmed to exist are a ban on travel to the mortal realm not sanctioned for official business, upholding TheMasquerade while in the human world with disguises, and a trademark or copyright on the name of the "Lulu World" amusement park. All other acts typically deemed as immoral in Hell are permitted and not punished under Lucifer's law. Drugs are sold from vending machines, civilian ownership of fully automatic weapons is widespread, sexual deviancy is the norm, genocidal turf wars among the demon lords are an annual thing, and there's nothing anyone can do about fraud and other bad business practices. [[AmusingInjuries The upside is that sinners are immortal and can't die from most of the above]], [[but the downside is that the genocidal hit squads from Heaven with immortal-killing weaponry are fully permitted and encouraged to open fire on anyone.]]

* In ''Film/ThePurge'', a sinister group called the "New Founding Fathers" have taken over the United States and established an annual nationwide event where most crime, up to and including first-degree mass murder, are legal for a 12-hour period while emergency services are illegal (or enjoying the purge), which began as a way to [[KillThePoor persecute the homeless and other vulnerable people]] and to maintain their grip on power by terrorizing everyone else. Naturally, The Founding Fathers and their allies are still protected by the law under the purge and are protected by armies of security personnel. In the third film, they allow Purgers to kill elected officials and nominees in order to publicly assassinate an opposing presidential candidate. [[KarmicDeath This bites them in the ass when the resistance unleashes their decades-long plans to purge them legally]].

* How {{Hell}} is run in ''WebAnimation/HazbinHotel'', as Lucifer is theoretically in charge ([[AsskickingEqualsAuthority because he can do horrible things to anyone who defies him]]) but the only laws canonically confirmed to exist are a ban on travel to the mortal realm not sanctioned for official business, upholding TheMasquerade while in the human world with disguises, and a trademark or copyright on the name of the "Lulu World" amusement park. All other acts typically deemed as immoral in Hell are permitted and not punished under Lucifer's law. Drugs are sold from vending machines, civilian ownership of fully automatic weapons is widespread, sexual deviancy is the norm, genocidal turf wars among the demon lords are an annual thing, and there's nothing anyone can do about fraud and other bad business practices.

However, what happens when something contemptible in a society is considered legal by a society's ruling authority? What happens when evil people have the law on their side, or at least their immoral deeds aren't unlawful? What happens when acts of immorality have legal backing and legitimacy on their side? What if the legislative body decrees that arson is permitted on second Tuesdays, people named Bob are given two free passes for murder, and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking no cop is allowed to write tickets for jaywalking]]?

Due to the obvious risk of FlameBait and Edit Wars, '''Administrivia/NoRealLifeExamplesPlease''' We'll just say people do sometimes consider this TruthInTelevision and leave it at that.

[[folder:Literature]]
* Downplayed in the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' series when it comes to theft. Though the ruling authorities dislike it, the city of Ankh-Morpork ''sorta'' legalized thievery, but only for members of the ThievesGuild, who have limits on how many robberies, muggings, etc. they can do in a year, and each victim gets a receipt and is entitled to go a certain amount of time until they get robbed again by the Guild. Unlicensed thieves are still illegal, and probably pray that the police catch them instead of the Thieves' Guild, since the Guild is murderously protective of their privilege to commit theft with permission under the law.
[[/folder]]

* ''Franchise/StarWars: Film/ThePhantomMenace''. This is why the Trade Federation are desperately trying to keep the invasion of Naboo a ClosedCircle, as it's very much ''not'' legalized and would get them thrashed if word got out. Instead, they're trying to force the Queen to sign a document legalizing the invasion, [[ObstructiveBureaucrat bogging down any retaliation in so much diplomatic red tape]].

* In ''Series/{{Gotham}}'', this is the central plot of the “[[Recap/GothamS4E1PaxPenguina]]”, where Penguin’s solution to restoring order to Gotham is to reduce crime by legalizing it. This system called “Pax Penguina” dictates that criminals who carried a Licence of Misconduct, were able to commit crimes and be exempt from being investigated or arrested by the GCPD.

Often the purpose of the trope is ToCreateAPlaygroundForEvil, which is similar but does not require a ruler, as well as OutlawTown and TotalitarianGangsterism, which are often side-effects of this trope coming into place when immoral figures become the ruling authority over otherwise morally superior masses. Also a possible factor in ViceCity and WretchedHive. The CorruptBureaucrat will certainly be involved, as will the ObstructiveBureaucrat. AristocratsAreEvil may be in play if the setting is a monarchy, or CorruptCorporateExecutive in a capitalist setting.

** The Kryptonian island of Bokos in ''World's Finest Comics'' number 191 not only legalizes crimes, but ''outlaws'' honest acts like returning stolen money and refusing to help thieves, which are punishable by [[CoolAndUnusualPunishment jetpack exile]], as in, the opposite of [[{{Prison}} our way of punishing crimes]].

Due to the obvious risk of FlameBait and Edit Wars, '''Administrivia/NoRealLifeExamplesPlease'''. We'll just say people do sometimes consider this TruthInTelevision and leave it at that.

* In ''Anime/RanmaOneHalf'', the titular heroine must square off against Kodachi Kuno in a girls' rhythmic gymnastics match. Combatants are not allowed to attack each other directly; the object is to use "tools" to vanquish an opponent. Tools include small clubs, a ball, a hoop, and a ribbon on a stick. Kodachi's tools are modified with sharp edges and other nasty hazards for lethal effect, which the referee actually allows. Even a kettle of hot water and someone fished from the audience qualifies tools.

Compare and contrast TheBadGuysAreCops, when the laws might not be evil but law enforcement is.

In most societies, there are [[CourtroomIndex rules and laws to enforce and maintain proper behaviors]]. There are [[CodeOfHonour ethics and codes of conduct]] that are considered acceptable and those that are not. Murder isn't just morally wrong, it's against the law, and any sane society's legal system will be after you if you try it.

* Egghead pulls this off for a time in the ''Series/Batman1966'' episode "The Egg Foes in Gotham". After [[ItMakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext gaining control of the city due to preventing the descendants of the town founders from giving nine raccoon pelts to the Last of the Mohicans]], he kicks Batman and Robin out on pain of execution, and declares that any gangster or villain he likes has ''carte blanche'' to do whatever they want in Gotham. It ends when Batman declares MyRuleFuIsStrongerThanYours, having found a loophole that said that anyone [[ObviousRulePatch of questionable moral character was disqualified from taking advantage of the whole raccoon-pelt business.]]

In most societies, there are [[CodeOfHonour rules and laws to enforce and maintain proper behaviors]]. There are ethics and codes of conduct that are considered acceptable and those that are not. The "Nots" most likely being heavily condemned and illegalized by the ruling authority of a setting.

However, what happens when something contemptible in a society is considered legal by a society's ruling authority? What happens when evil people have the law on their side, or at least whatever they are doing is immoral but not illegal and therefore acceptable under the law? What happens when acts of immorality have legal backing and legitimacy on their side?

Often the purpose of the trope is ToCreateAPlaygroundForEvil, which is similar but does not require a ruler, as well as OutlawTown and TotalitarianGangsterism, which are often side-effects of this trope coming into place when immoral figures become the ruling authority over otherwise morally superior masses. The CorruptBureaucrat will certainly be involved, as will the ObstructiveBureaucrat. AristocratsAreEvil may be in play if the setting is a monarchy, or CorruptCorporateExecutive in a capitalist setting.

Anyone who is LawfulEvil will be able to use this to their great advantage. Someone who believes in HonorBeforeReason will follow the laws and do evil, though maybe JustFollowingOrders. More morally aligned people may have CuriousQualmsOfConscience, debate whether ToBeLawfulOrGood, and hopefully decide to say ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight.

If the majority in the setting doesn't see the actions in question as evil, that's just regular ValuesDissonance or BlueAndOrangeMorality.

Due to the obvious risk of FlameBait and Edit Wars, '''Administrivia/NoRealLifeExamplesPlease''' as there are places in RealLife that have laws permitting acts that people both foreign and domestic would consider ethically bankrupt.

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

--> '''Akane''': Is that even legal?
--> '''Referee''': It's okay, as long as she uses the tools.

[[folder:Comics]]
* In ''[[ComicBook/BuckGodotZapGunForHire Buck Godot]]'', there's only one Law on New Hong Kong: "There is no Law on New Hong Kong." As such, absolutely ''anything'' goes when it comes to committing crimes, and there will never be any legal reprisal because there's no police, prison system, or criminal court. However, there's also no law against vigilante justice (including of the preemptive variety), carrying heavy weapons at all times, and doing anything you like to that guy who just looked at you funny. And since every citizen of the planet is fully aware of all of this, what could have been anarchy has very nearly become the model example of 'A universally-armed society is a polite society.' Or rather, the ''citizens'' have adjusted. Tourists are advised to step very, very carefully - just because there are no ''laws'', that does not mean there are no ''rules''.

* Played with in ''Fanfic/ThisBites''. The pirate haven of [[spoiler:Skelter Bite, the remains of Thriller Bark appropriated and rebuilt by Lola after Moria's defeat]] has 'Pirate Justice' as its reigning rule, which is basically controlled chaos: the crimes are legal, but not without consequence. For example, arson is legal...as long as you're willing to help in the repairs. Murder is legal...as long as the victim is of a more unpleasant sort. Theft is legal...as long as you don't get caught. Brawling is legal...as long as you mitigate the property damage. And in general, the more trouble it causes on a widespread scale, the worse the punishment.

[[folder:Film]]
* ''[[Film/StarWarsEpisodeIThePhantomMenace Star Wars: The Phantom Menace]]'': This is why the Trade Federation are desperately trying to keep the invasion of Naboo a ClosedCircle, as it's very much ''not'' legalized and would get them thrashed if word got out. Instead, they're trying to force the Queen to sign a document legalizing the invasion, [[ObstructiveBureaucrat bogging down any retaliation in so much diplomatic red tape]].

[[folder:Live Action TV]]

* ''Series/TheWatch2021'' is inspired by the ''Discworld'' novels and specifically the ''The Watch'' line with the city of Ankh-Morpork, so the same rules are in effect when it comes to there being various legalized guilds to commit crime. The Watch, rather than being an actual police force, is intended to regulate the various guilds, but the series is about them growing to become more than that.

* Any ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' setting that contains a largely LawfulEvil society is going to feature this. One of the best-known is the nation of Thay from ''TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms'', where slavery and undeath are seen as foundational pillars of society and where even the average MadScientist would be seen as 'too ethical.' ''TabletopGame/{{Ravenloft}}'' also has several Darklands that are like this, though what evil is legalized varies between them.

[[/folder]]

-->''Once something has been approved by the Government, it's no longer immoral!''