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Theories Of Retributive Justice

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Retributive theories of justice argue that punishment should be imposed for the crimes committed and the severity of the punishment should be proportionate to the seriousness of the crime. More than often, retributive punishment is confused with ideas of vengeance. It is generally argued that in case of retributive punishment, no limit can be set for revenge which thereby makes such revenge personal whereas the person administering such punishment may well have no personal connection with the victim.
An affordable alternative to the retributive justice system is the restorative justice practices which can be considered unique in its emphasis on not just one component of the criminal justice system such as punishment, but as incorporating victims, …show more content…

Forgiveness itself includes individual transformation of the victims that can free the pain of the past thereby healing the wounds caused by the crime. The decision to forgive has multifaceted explanations. Often, the victims themselves find it difficult to identify clearly the reason or reasons that led them to forgive and also it is common that there is more than one cause. Restorative justice seeks to uphold the humanization of the consequences of crime, encouraging the postulation of accountability on the part of the perpetrator of the crime to the victim or their kin, thus laying the foundation for a better future that rests on and is aware of the past, but is not attached to the past as in the case of concept of guilt in criminal …show more content…

CONCLUSION
The path to attain real societal peace starts with changing our conceptions of interpersonal relationships. The concept of restorative justice is one such framework which provides a suitable starting point for treating all those affected by crime with respect, particularly in the case of serious crimes with special attention to the needs of victims. From the above discussion, it appears that the concept of restorative justice holds a significant potential for both victim and offender healing, facilitated through the emotional impact of genuine repentance and consequent opportunities for expressions of forgiveness. It not only encourages victims to grant forgiveness as a curative act but also helps them channel the positive consequences, so enabling the benefits to extend beyond the interpersonal to the community and societal level. This pacification between public and private is particularly important if we are to bridge the gap between interpersonal forgiveness and genuine collective peace in societies that have been victims of various heinous crimes. Thereby, promoting restorative practices is a necessity if we really want to build a new form of personal relationships that promote social change as a response to

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