Law enforcement in the ancient world was all local (communication being space-shuttle expensive), and the standard of living was too low to support any kind of expenditure on criminals. So most punishments were fast (flogging), irreversible (exile), or stigmatizing in some way (branding "thief" on the forehead).
Bear in mind too that most of Rome's million inhabitants were originally family farmers who went broke trying to compete with big plantation-farmers under Rome's weird political institutions. Lots of urban unrest, gang violence, riots, and so on. Gruesome public executions were an effective (and maybe even necessary) means of keeping the peace.
Bear in mind too that most of Rome's million inhabitants were originally family farmers who went broke trying to compete with big plantation-farmers under Rome's weird political institutions. Lots of urban unrest, gang violence, riots, and so on. Gruesome public executions were an effective (and maybe even necessary) means of keeping the peace.