Our entire concept of 'punishment' is very different from when we were a new nation.
Punishment was swift, immediate, and PUBLIC. Stocks, lashes, etc. Everyone knew you had done your penance, and moved on.
Towns were small, you needed your artisan (smith, cobbler, whatever) back at work. Replacements were days away if you could find one.
Heinous crimes usually ended up in hanging.
IMHO, locking people up is not a solution. We are still close enough to animals that direct and immediate physical punishment could be useful.
Look at Brenda Spencer. She was the first school shooting. Locked away 40 years ago at 16 years old. Society was to timid to just kill her since she was under age. I ask you, what has been served? Many of those that were affected are dead. What happens when everyone who was affected has died and yet the criminal is still in prison? Is that still serving justice? Especially given the average for murder is 14 years...
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/public-safety/sd-me-brenda-spencer-school-shooting-20190129-story.html
https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/tssp16.pdf
What has been accomplished but society paying $30k a year ($1.2M so far) to hold this person? A $1 hollow point would have been far more effective, but someone would have to pull the trigger on a 16 year old girl.