1. Harsh Punishment Backfires, Researcher Says Social, Job Skills Reduce Recidivism

2. 14 Cutting off a person's hand is a harsh punishment for thievery.

3. He got a six-year jail sentence, a harsh punishment for a first offense.

4. Being held personally responsible for the training and discipline of the legionaries under their command, centurions had a well-deserved reputation for dealing out harsh punishment.