Answer:
In my opinion this isn't exactly accurate. This might applied for certain crimes or people. For example, someone killed your whole family but because of his status and money(or any possible reason), the police or law choose to punish lightly or cover up important evidence that is crucial to case and court. And you choose to revenged him/her. With this, no matter how harsh the punishment is, you might(as some people might) as well kill him even though there is a very harsh punishment such as a death penalty.
One case the harsh punishment might come to help is that, if you rob a bank. If the punishment is a death penalty no matter amount of cash lost, you might reconsider this choice. No matter what stage of desperate for money you are in, it won't earn you a death penalty. Whether it's a debt, or gamble.
Hopefully this helped, sorry for being late!