lawless

An outlaw or someone who doesn't follow rules might be described as lawless.

Imagine a Wild West town with no sheriff and no police force - that's kind of like a place where people are lawless, doing whatever they want without anyone to stop them. It's not just about the absence of authority figures; it's also about how some people take advantage of the situation to act recklessly or unfairly. In this sense, "lawless" is often used in news stories and documentaries about social unrest, crime-ridden areas, or even situations where countries don't have strong governments.