Answer:
Punishment during the years c1500-1700 was often cruel, and the result of unfair trials. An example is the witch hunt and trials that were very common in Europe during this period. Women suspected of being witches were indicted without enough proof, trialed by a biased jury, and sentenced to cruel punishments like being burned alive at the stake.
In the period 1900 to present, punishment is less cruel, and punished people are trialed by a fair jury (at least in many countries). For example, a person accussed of robbery will only be indicted if there is enough proof, and will be trialed by a fair and unbiased jury (at least as unbiased as possible). The punishment will be less cruel as well, probably a few months or years in jail, without torture or other cruel punishment methods.
