Criminal justice systems differ from one country to the other and their response to antisocial behaviors is not always homogeneous. However, over the years the United Nations standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice have provided a collective vision of how criminal justice system should be structured. Despite their “soft-law” nature, the standards and norms have made a significant contribution to promoting more effective and fair criminal justice structures in three dimensions. Firstly, they can be utilized at the national level by fostering in-depth assessments leading to the adoption of necessary criminal justice reforms. Secondly, they can help countries to develop sub-regional and regional strategies. Thirdly, globally and internationally, the standards and norms represent “best practices” that can be adapted by States to meet national needs.