So if someone beat your dad up in front of you, you would rather him have a pile of cash than have that person go to jail for assault?
I would rather my dad be made as whole as possible.
Sure, when someone who has done something wrong to you has something horrible happen to them it feels good.
Instead of a retired 67 year old, imagine that my dad is 47, head of a family, and owner of a business; as he was at that age.
A random criminal act happens to him. Let us imagine the criminal act is so grave it prevents him from working. Sure, the person is caught, but like most criminals, he is without means, and there are no assets to seek in civil court. Society is better off, the offender is behind bars, never to harm another.
What of the victim's family?
No civil possibilities, the criminal is in prison, but other than some sense of justice, karma, or vengeance, how does that help the victim or his family?
Suppose it was any sort of corporate malfeasance or negligence that had a similar result. The corporation does not expend resources defending a criminal charge. But the man who was unable to further provide for his family gets a settlement, or a judgment.
The man's children can go to college. The man cannot work, but with prudent management, he doesn't have to. His family has been given the resources to survive, at a minimum, if not prosper.