Laravel: Controller for JSON processor

Controller.php

<?php

namespace App\Http\Controllers;

use Illuminate\Http\Request;
use Illuminate\Http\JsonResponse;
use Illuminate\Foundation\Bus\DispatchesCommands;
use Illuminate\Routing\Controller as BaseController;
use Illuminate\Foundation\Validation\ValidatesRequests;

abstract class Controller extends BaseController {

    use DispatchesCommands,
        ValidatesRequests;

    protected $force_json = false;

    /**
     * Overriding this to wrap the errors into an ajax_form compatible response
     *
     * @param  \Illuminate\Http\Request  $request
     * @param  array  $errors
     * @return \Illuminate\Http\Response
     */
    protected function buildFailedValidationResponse(Request $request, array $errors) {
        if ($this->force_json || $request->ajax() || $request->wantsJson()) {
            $error_list = array();
            $field_list = array();
            foreach ($errors as $field => $messages) {
                $error_list[] = implode("\n\n", $messages);
                $field_list[] = $field;
            }
            $final_message = "The following error" . (count($error_list) > 1 ? "s are" : " is") . " in your submission:\n\n" . implode("\n\n", $error_list);
            $array = array(
                'message' => $final_message
            );
            return new JsonResponse($array, 200);
        }
        return redirect()->to($this->getRedirectUrl())
                        ->withInput($request->input())
                        ->withErrors($errors, $this->errorBag());
    }

    /**
     * buildRedirect will either send a regular redirect
     * or send a redirect back in a json response
     *
     * @param |Illuminate|Http|Request $request
     * @param string $target
     * @return |Illuminate|Http|Response
     */
    protected function buildRedirect(Request $request, $target) {
        if ($request->ajax() || $request->wantsJson()) {
            return new JsonResponse(array('redirect' => $target), 200);
        }
        return redirect()->to($target);
    }

    /**
     * sendMessage will send back a message
     *
     * @param |Illuminate|Http|Request $request
     * @param string $message
     * @return |Illuminate|Http|Response
     */
    protected function buildMessage(Request $request, $message) {
        if ($request->ajax() || $request->wantsJson()) {
            return new JsonResponse(array('message' => $message), 200);
        } else {
            throw new UnauthorizedHttpException("You cannot access this resource directly. Please verify that JavaScript is enabled in your browser.");
        }
    }

}