Does Increased Punishment Mean Increased Crime?

The idea that growing persecution in crimes is directly related to actual crimes committed is a misconception that many hold. The development of the accusative institution of judicial punishments is one that keeps crime convictions down artificially. The idea that one has to accuse the criminal in order to start any sort of a trial is something that will keep any looking into beggars or other stigmatized groups from trying to accuse higher standing citizens of crimes. 

Even citizens in decent standing could not accuse some crimes, either ones that would potentially stigmatize themselves or a crime that was committed by a upper elite in society. This creates an extremely skewed sense of justice and would eventually give way to inquisitorial justice that would bring about many more punishments and give the appearance of more crime even though it likely remained the same as in past time periods