Legal Definitions - penalty

A penalty is a punishment given to someone who has broken the law, a contract, a rule, or a regulation. It can be given for civil or criminal violations, but civil penalties are usually less severe.

For example, if someone breaks a traffic law and gets a ticket, they have to pay a fine. This is a civil penalty. If someone commits a more serious crime, like robbery, they may have to go to jail. This is a criminal penalty.

Penalties can also involve giving up property or other possessions. For example, if someone is found guilty of fraud, they may have to give back the money they stole.

Some penalties are very severe, like the death penalty. This is only used for the most serious crimes, like murder, and is not allowed in every state.

Overall, penalties are used to discourage people from breaking the law and to make sure that there are consequences for their actions.