Harsher Penalties for Violent Offenders? Should violent offenders be forced to face heavier penalties for their crimes? I think so. And that there should also be some reforms made to our penal system. The death penalty serves its purpose, it kills, instills fear, and generally wastes tax-payers time and money. I think we need stiffer penalties as an alternative to the death penalty because some of the penalties we have now are becoming ineffective, because a lot of them are very expensive, and because many violent offenders are repeat offenders. When a violent crime is committed, after the court proceedings are over, and if the accused is found guil