Kc, people in prison currently don't have it soft.  Treat them any worse and they'll become worse. Beat your kid every day "to keep them in line" and create a violent person likely to abuse others. 
Most people who are incarcerated are going to get out sometime. You can either treat them like human beings while they're inside and help them to not only retain, but grow their humanity or you can treat them like beasts and push them to become beats and believe the worst of themselves and others.