2015 Professor Wells Restorative Vs. Retributive Justice Retributive justice is a legal basic that dictates that punishment for a crime is acceptable as long as it is a equivalent response to the crime committed. In this type of justice system, a crime is typically seen as being done against the state or government. As such, it is left to the government to pursue justice in terms of punishment against the individual who has committed the crime. In most respects, retributive justice seeks to punish a