Justice is the set of rules and regulations establishing a framework for relations between individuals and institutions, authorizing, prohibiting and allowing specific actions in the interaction of individuals and institutions. This set of rules has a cultural basis and in most modern societies, a formal basis:

- The cultural foundation is based on broad consensus in the individuals of a society of good and evil, and other practical aspects of how they should organize the relationships between people. It is assumed that in every human society, the majority of its members has a conception of justice, and is considered a social virtue to act according to this conception.

- The formal foundation is formally codified in various statutory provisions that are enforced by specially designated judges and people who try to be impartial with respect to the members and institutions of society and the conflicts that occur in relationships. Learn more in criminal justice schools.

Among other theories of justice, we highlight the philosophers:

- Plato: Justice as social harmony. In his book “The Republic, Plato proposed the organization of his ideal city, through the dialogue of Socrates, that the rulers of this city from becoming the most just and wise individuals, or philosophers, or that the most just and wise individuals in the community, namely the philosophers, are converted into their rulers.

- Aristotle: Justice as proportional equality: Give everyone what is theirs, or what it deserves. He says that what belongs to every citizen must be in proportion to their contribution to society, their needs and personal merits.

- St. Thomas Aquinas: Natural Law. Says citizens must possess natural rights that are God given. These rights were later called Human Rights.

- For the utilitarian public institutions are composed of a fair when they get to maximize the utility (in the sense of happiness) added. According to this theory, it just is what benefits the greatest number of people at once.

- Ulpiano: Justice is the constant and perpetual will to give everyone his due.