Crime rates are low in foreign countries. In the Middle East, if you are caught stealing they cut off your hand. Maybe, but very effective. Japan also has swift punishment for criminals, as do other Asian nations. In tribal times, punishments were swift and brutal, yet usually fit the crimes they were intended to correct.
American history shows a swift punishment meted out to all criminals.
The colonists were severe with criminals and with good reason. They knew the only way to truly stop crime was to punish it appropriately. And they did so, with panache. It's simple really. The problem with that statement is that already today, criminals walk away scot-free from their punishments with amazing ease.