Types of Justice
Justice is action in accordance with the requirements of some law. Whether these rules are grounded in human consensus or societal norms, they are supposed to ensure that all members of society receive fair
treatment. Issues of justice arise in several different spheres and play a significant role in causing, perpetuating, and addressing conflict. Just institutions tend to instill a sense of stability, well-being, and satisfaction among society members, while perceived injustices can lead to dissatisfaction, rebellion, or revolution. Each of the different spheres expresses the principles
of justice in its own way, resulting in different types and concepts of justice: distributive, procedural, retributive, and restorative. These types of justice have important implications for socio-economic, political, civil, and criminal justice at both the national and international level.
Distributive, or economic justice, is concerned with giving all members of society a "fair
share" of the benefits and resources available. However, while everyone might
agree that wealth should be distributed fairly, there is much disagreement about
what counts as a "fair share." Some possible criteria of distribution are
equity, equality, and need.
Procedural, is concerned with making and implementing decisions according to fair processes that ensure "fair treatment." Rules must be impartially followed and consistently applied in order to generate
an unbiased decision. Those carrying out the procedures should be neutral, and
those directly affected by the decisions should have some voice or
representation in the decision-making process.
Retributive appeals to the notion that people deserve to be treated in the same way they treat others. It
is a retroactive approach that justifies punishment as a response to past
injustice or wrongdoing. The central idea is that the offender has gained unfair
advantages through his or her behavior, and that punishment will set this
imbalance straight.
However, because there is a tendency to slip from retributive justice to an emphasis on revenge, some suggest that restorative justice processes are more effective. While a retributive
justice approach conceives of transgressions as crimes against the state or
nation, restorative justice focuses on violations as crimes against individuals.
It is concerned with healing victim's wounds, restoring offenders to law-abiding
lives, and repairing harm done to interpersonal relationships and the community.
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