Traditionally, the theory of retributive justice is based on the ideas of retaliation (punishment), which is valuable in itself, and also provides deterrent.
[3] Before the police, sentences of execution or imprisonment were thought pretty efficient at this, while at the same time removing the threat criminals pose to the public (protection).
Traditionally, victims of a crime only played a small part in the criminal justice process, as this breached the rules of society.
The shift towards alternative sentencing means that some offenders avoid imprisonment with its many unwanted consequences.
This is beneficial for society, as it may prevent them from getting into the so-called revolving door syndrome, the inability of a person to go back to normal life after leaving prison, becoming a career criminal.