165k views
4 votes
In colonial america, a pickpocket might have had a hand cut off as punishment. why was this particular method of punishment chosen?

User Chuchoo
by
8.1k points

1 Answer

6 votes
It was a manner of symbolic punishment. Since the hand was the offending part that led to the crime, it was felt that it was appropriate to remove this as a way of deterring the person from doing the same thing in the future.
User Mohamed Rahouma
by
8.1k points