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What can and should be the function of the criminal law in the control and regulation of riots? That is the question on which this essay will focus. It covers a relatively small, though complex, segment of a much larger problem in law—reaching the underlying causes of riots. That problem is of continuing concern to all agencies of decision in law—legislative, executive, and judicial. Any response therefore to the narrowly posed legislative question must ultimately be evaluated in the context of answers to such questions as: What are the underlying causes of riots? What are the functions of riots? How can riots be tolerated or prevented without sacrificing values fundamental to a democratic society? For purposes of long-range public and private planning in child care, education, employment, housing, technology, welfare, armed forces recruitment, and civil rights—to identify a few potentially relevant areas of decision—are there meaningful distinctions to be made between, for example, planned and spontaneous riots, between led and apparently leaderless riots, between riots with and without visible goals, or between riots by or against blacks, veterans, students, police, labor or any other group?