Retribution Defined

Criminal law cases often result in a court-authorized sentence that an offender must carry out. This sentence may include community service, hefty fines, and jail time. One of the most common and widely acknowledged objectives of criminal law sentencing is retribution. Defendants in criminal law cases have taken part in some offense that has resulted in them facing trial. Often, their behavior may have caused harm to another individual or damage to another individual's property. The behavior which causes individuals to face criminal law cases may range in severity. Individuals who are involved in criminal law cases may face minor misdemeanor charges or they may face severe felony charges. The most common misdemeanor offenses include traffic violations, such as running a stop sign or speeding. An individual knows that these behaviors are wrong and potentially dangerous, but he or she chooses to take part in them anyway. These minor offenses usually do not result in criminal law cases. However, retribution will still be exacted upon the perpetrator. They will be required to pay hefty fines if they are caught partaking in this illegal behavior. If he or she continues to disregard traffic laws, then a violator may have his or her license revoked and will lose his or her driving privileges. These perpetrators have broken the law and must be reprimanded for their offenses. In other criminal law cases, an individual may have subjected another person to physical harm or death. These offenders have disregarded the sanctity of life and retribution must be sought in order to punish them for their actions. Retribution is the most frequently cited objective for the imprisonment or the punishment of an individual who has committed a crime. The United States criminal justice system has developed the mentality that a punishment must be designated that fits the crime. The retribution that will be exacted upon a criminal must be of equal severity to the crime that the offender has committed. For example, an individual who has committed murder will have his or her life taken from him or her. This may occur by sentencing the perpetrator to the death penalty or life in prison.