Final answer:
The major justification for corrective (criminal) law involves preventing harm to society and punishing those responsible, with a focus on principles like retribution, deterrence, incapacitation, rehabilitation, and restoration, which serve different purposes and are adopted in various forms worldwide.
Step-by-step explanation:
The major justification for corrective (criminal) law is the prevention of actions that could harm or endanger others, while ensuring that those who commit such actions are appropriately punished. Criminal law functions on principles like retribution, deterrence, incapacitation, rehabilitation, and restoration. Each of these principles serves a distinct purpose. Retribution is about punishment for past crimes, deterrence focuses on discouraging future crimes, and incapacitation involves removing criminals from society to prevent future offences.
Rehabilitation aims to transform offenders into productive members of society, while restoration centers on repairing the harm caused by crime to victims, communities, and even the offenders themselves. Different countries mix these principles in varying degrees to form their criminal justice systems. The U.S. criminal justice system, for instance, embodies these elements across its police, courts, and corrections branches, playing a significant role in shaping law enforcement strategies and ensuring equitable application despite historical and ongoing challenges.
Understanding these justifications provides greater insight into why people commit crimes and how society can effectively prevent and respond to them. Also, considering the cost-benefit analysis helps in evaluating and choosing the most effective approaches to crime reduction, whether through legalization, prevention strategies, or other rehabilitation methods.