Death Sentence - Retribution (1986) -

: Unlike personal vengeance, retribution was framed as a cold, legal requirement intended to ensure fairness for all victims, including those with no social standing. Trends and Practices in 1986 The Ultimate Punishment: A Defense - PBS

: Supporters argued that some crimes are so severe that anything less than death fails to provide justice. This "lex talionis" (an eye for an eye) approach suggests that a murderer has "volunteered" for the risk of death by committing their crime. Death Sentence - Retribution (1986)

: Many believed that if the state refused to impose the punishment a criminal "deserved," it would lead to anarchy or vigilante justice. : Unlike personal vengeance, retribution was framed as