Absolute theories of punishment –revenge,retribution, atonement- look back to the past, tothe criminal deed and aim at balancing the harm done.

Unification focuses on preventing the repetitive behaviours rather than on what has happened before.

According to relative theories of punishment, society shall threaten to punish and the penalty shall be pronounced and executed with the aim of protecting society against further offenses but all this shall be done in a way adequate to the wrong doers’ guilt.

Executing a criminal is not the most extreme form of rendering a person incapable of committing future crimes.

Punishment may not express themoral condemnation of the community and is a lawful means of avenging a wrong.