What is retribute?

Retribution is a form of punishment that involves repayment or revenge for a wrong committed. In terms of criminal justice, retribution is the idea that offenders should receive punishment equal to the harm they have caused to their victims or society at large. This is often seen as a form of justice, as it seeks to make the offender pay for their crime and to deter others from committing similar offenses. However, some argue that retribution can be overly harsh and does not necessarily lead to rehabilitation or long-term deterrence. There is ongoing debate about the role of retribution in criminal justice and whether it should be one of the primary goals of punishment.