This article is about a philosophical category of “criminal punishment” and its historical evolution in Republic of Moldova and Romania. Criminal punishment represents one of the basic and disputable problems within the framework of human activity in development. Some scientific methods are applied during the explanation and examination of this problem. At the same time, an attempt has been made to solve some legal problems. There have been suggested several points of view and useful conclusions which are necessary to be taken into consideration. For all times criminal punishment was considered to be a compulsory measure applied by state authorities in order to deter and to constraint the offender. During different periods of time punishment was regarded as a type of revenge or like a form of deterrence applied towards the person who has committed a crime. Criminal punishment is considered to be necessary until will continue to exist other institutions which will ensure protection of our society from evil deeds.