Theories of Punishment — A Jurisprudential Study.

Punishment is one of the most significant concepts in criminal jurisprudence and reflects the relationship between law, morality, and society. Different legal systems across history have developed various theories to justify the infliction of punishment upon offenders. Theories of punishment explain the philosophical foundation, objectives, and social purposes behind penal sanctions. The major theories include the retributive theory, deterrent theory, preventive theory, reformative theory, and compensatory theory. This research paper critically analyses the major theories of punishment from a jurisprudential perspective.