Which approach to justice focuses primarily on punishment rather than rehabilitation?

Retributive justice is an approach that centers on the idea that those who commit crimes deserve to be punished in accordance with the severity of their actions. This framework emphasizes establishing a proportionate response to wrongdoing, with the intention of delivering justice through punishment as a means of retribution. The focus here is on the wrongdoing itself and the accountability of the offender, rather than on repairing harm or addressing the underlying factors that may have contributed to the criminal behavior.

In contrast, restorative justice seeks to repair the damage caused by the crime, emphasizing healing for victims, accountability for offenders in a constructive manner, and reconciliation within the community. Distributive justice, meanwhile, deals with the fair allocation of resources and opportunities within a society, rather than punishment related to crime. Thus, the focus of retributive justice specifically aligns with the notion of punishment as a primary objective, distinguishing it from the other approaches.