Abolitionism does not comprise only a kaleidoscopic multitude of radically critical perspectives of contemporary criminal law systems; it also offers a range of alternative methods of solving interpersonal conflicts and responding to harmful events. Many abolitionist ideas have proved useful, especially in the area of critical criminology. Furthermore, the ideal of restorative justice now has a place in substantive and procedural criminal law. Thus, one function of abolitionist non-criminology is to operate as a sort of bad conscience regarding crime policy, which is based mostly on a criminal law response to social conflicts. Abolitionist perspectives often derive from simplified sociological and sociopsychological and explanations of the social role of the criminal law system. Nevertheless, abolitionism makes possible useful insights into different forms of violence; the classical criminal law vocabulary cannot conceptualize these areas. The future potential of abolitionism lies in this area. 36 references (Author abstract modified)