In a traditional criminal justice system, the state acts on behalf of the ________ to punish the offender:

In the traditional criminal justice system, the state plays the role of a representative for the victim. This is predicated on the notion that when a crime is committed, it is not only an offense against the individual victim but also a violation of the social contract and community standards that the state is responsible for upholding. Therefore, the state steps in to provide justice by prosecuting the offender, ensuring that they are held accountable for their actions and providing a sense of resolution and security to the victim and the community as a whole.

This approach emphasizes the idea that crimes disturb the societal order, and thus, the state has an obligation to intervene, prosecute, and punish the offender. By functioning on behalf of the victim, the state seeks to balance the scales of justice, making it clear that criminal actions have legal repercussions meant to serve justice.

While the other options do touch on relevant aspects of community corrections, such as the roles of the community and the offender themselves, the primary focus in a traditional justice framework remains on the protection and representation of the victim.