What are the primary objectives of criminal law?

The primary objectives of criminal law encompass a comprehensive approach aimed at maintaining social order and ensuring justice within society. The correct answer identifies four essential objectives: deterrence, punishment, rehabilitation, and societal protection.

Deterrence serves to discourage both the offender and the general public from committing crimes by instilling a fear of punitive measures. This aim helps to prevent future criminal activities by making the consequences of committing such acts clear.

Punishment is a fundamental aspect of criminal law, serving to impose consequences for those who violate legal norms. This objective reaffirms societal boundaries and values by penalizing unlawful behavior, thereby reinforcing the expectation that individuals must adhere to the law.

Rehabilitation focuses on reforming offenders to reintegrate them into society as productive members. It recognizes that many individuals who commit crimes may do so due to underlying issues, such as addiction or lack of education, and seeks to address these root causes rather than simply inflicting punitive measures.

Societal protection refers to the legal system's goal of safeguarding the community from those who pose a danger due to their past behavior. This may involve incarceration or other means of restricting their ability to cause harm until they are deemed safe to return to society.

The other choices, while they may reflect certain