Responsibility and Punishment

Responsibility refers to an individual's accountability for their actions, meaning they are recognized as having made choices that influence outcomes. Punishment is the consequence imposed to address wrongful behavior, aiming to deter future misconduct, promote justice, and uphold societal norms. Together, they form the basis of criminal justice: when someone is responsible for a crime, appropriate punishment seeks to correct, rehabilitate, or prevent similar actions, balancing fairness with the need for societal safety.