Retributive justice

Retributive justice is a theory of criminal justice wherein punishments are justified on the grounds that the criminal has created an imbalance in the social order that must be addressed by action against the criminal. The theory is often associated with harsh punishment, and the phrase "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth" is a commonly heard justification for this theory. However, proponents of the theory point out that the retribution should be proportional to the crime, and that minor crimes should have mild punishments while major crimes should have harsh punishment. The theory is sometimes justified by the belief that punishment is expected to act as a deterrent.

Related Topics:
Criminal justice - Punishment - An eye for an eye

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