What term is used for damages that are intended to punish the offender?

The term used for damages that are intended to punish the offender is punitive damages. These are awarded in addition to compensatory damages, which are meant to reimburse the injured party for actual losses incurred, such as medical expenses and lost wages. Punitive damages, on the other hand, serve as a form of punishment for particularly egregious or malicious conduct by the offender, while also acting as a deterrent to prevent similar behavior in the future.

In legal cases, punitive damages are typically seen in situations where the defendant's actions were willfully harmful or showed a reckless disregard for the safety or rights of others. The aim is not just to compensate the victim but to hold the offender accountable in a way that discourages similar actions in the future, highlighting the deterrent effect of such awards in the judicial system.

Other types of damages such as compensatory damages focus purely on making the victim whole, nominal damages address violations of rights without significant loss, and general damages cover non-economic impacts like pain and suffering. These functions differ significantly from the punitive nature of punitive damages.