How can state punishment reduce the chance of private revenge by victims?

State punishment serves as a mechanism to reduce the likelihood of private revenge by satisfying a community’s natural demand for justice. By assuming the responsibility to address offenses, the state provides a formal process that discourages victims and their families from resorting to direct, often escalating, acts of violence.12

Historically, this transition from private vengeance to state-involved justice was a significant development in legal systems. For example, the Law of Twelve Tables in ancient Rome signaled a shift toward using restitution as a method of justice, thereby limiting the tolerance for blood feuds. Similarly, the Anglo-Saxon system utilized wergild payments to compensate victims, which effectively reduced the incentive for private retaliation because such vengeance often invited further cycles of violence.2

Ultimately, the modern state maintains a monopoly on the legitimate use of physical force, which allows it to impose proportionate sanctions on offenders. By ensuring that justice is administered through established legal channels, the state seeks to prevent the instability and social harm associated with private retribution.132