"The stiffer the penalty, the greater the message is sent"

This quote by Lou Brock recommends that the severity of a charge is directly associated to the message it sends out. In other words, the more serious the penalty, the more powerful the message. This could be translated in a variety of ways. For instance, if a person devotes a criminal activity, a harsher penalty might be seen as a deterrent to others who might be thinking about comparable actions. It might also be interpreted as a method of sending out a message to the offender that their actions are not appropriate which they will be held liable for their actions. Furthermore, it could be seen as a method of sending out a message to society that certain habits are not tolerated which there are consequences for breaking the law. Eventually, this quote recommends that the severity of a charge is a crucial factor in sending out a message to both the culprit and society.