When you think about it, excruciation and execution are the only just forms of punishment fit for criminals.

There are some who disagree and think that you should never punish a criminal. That punishment inflicted in cold blood is worse than any crime committed. There may be justice in that but it would destroy society itself as no one would feel safe. What's more, people would eventually decide to take justice into their own hands and we'd return to the days of stoning and burning against people who may as well have offended their sensibilities.

Others say that our criminals should not be tortured but be made to work for the good of society. But such labor is unfair competition to the honest worker. Also, that corrupted workforce would usually need the encouragement of the lash in order to get any work done, and what is that if not torture again?

Others still say that criminals should not be punished but instead confined in prisons where they are treated "humanely" and all their needs are met. But people who live such safe lives usually live long lives. And each life of a criminal is one that drains society's wealth, some part of which comes from the victims.