Which term describes justice focused on the desert-based aspects of punishment?

• A. Distributive
• B. Procedural
• C. Substantive
• D. Restorative

Answer: (C)

Substantive justice is about the content of the law—what counts as a fair punishment and whether the sanction itself is deserved for the offense. When punishment is based on desert, it means the penalty should fit what the offender deserves for the crime, focusing on the merit of the sanction itself rather than how the decision was made, who gets what, or how harm is repaired. Distributive justice looks at fair allocation of resources and burdens, procedural justice concerns the fairness of the process used to reach a decision, and restorative justice aims to repair harm and restore relationships. So the desert-based, punishment-focused view aligns with substantive justice.