Another phrase that most people find pretty cruel is unusual punishment. It’s something more than simply disproportionate but it’s a related concept and an important term in (international) human rights law.

Such a severe punishment dished out to deter others from committing the same crime is sometimes called exemplary or exemplary.

Macmillan:

exemplary ADJECTIVE FORMAL

2 an exemplary punishment is extremely severe, so that other people will be afraid to commit a similar crime.

Macmillan.

Be the worst and consider the word you are seeking as being disproportionate.

OD:

disproportionate : too large or too small in comparison with something else: ‘people on lower incomes spend a disproportionate amount of their income on fuel’ ‘persistent offenders were given sentences that were disproportionate to the offences they had committed’

Your example, “Matthew stole a candy bar from a 7-Eleven and got put in jail for 17 years,” exemplifies a disproportionate punishment… and the concept of disproportionality.

I believe the word you are half-remembering is punitive – inflicting or intended to inflict punishment; retributive, punishing (OED).

Note, however, that punitive means punishing and not disproportionately punishing. Even when used in law (as in punitive damages ) the sense is that punitive damages compensate the wronged party and also punish (with reasonable limits of proportionality) the wrong-doer.

Um, The OP is right in saying extremist punitive.

To conclude, setting aside the OP’s request for a word beginning with P, draconian seems like the best fit for the

sense described.

Is

it true that the man was given 30 years if he stole a single apple? What does that seem unfitting? ”

“.. ” “Faith”…..”.”I really have two fingers on the keyboard.. “Mumpts?

A ffluent : (especially of something offered or discharged) exuberantly plentiful; abundant.

I offer my profuse apologies.

How can I make a written statement (for a beginner)?

If you were looking for an adjective you could use the word incommensurate as in ‘a punishment that seems incommensurate with the crime committed’

Inordinate : unusually or disproportionately large.

Matthew Robbins lost

his ring to a candy bar in a 7-Eleven and was sentenced to 20 years for stealing a candy bar and selling it to someone else.

Is there any evidence that Matthew stolen a candy from a 7-Eleven and was jailed?

Persecution

https://en.wiktionary.com. Persecutive http://en.wiktionary.com/ org/wiki/persecution#English http://www.dictionary.com#Circle_Links.org/. com/browse/persecute

You can do the same things. Does not use mainly for being punished for belonging to a disliked group, or for a campaign to punish or hold back like a

disliked group!

Draconian

https://www.vocabulare.com. Draconian does not have a public service. Use

the word Draconian (or lowercase draconian) to describe laws or rules that are really harsh and repressive.

In ancient Athens, Draco was the guy who was making some laws. So many people call him Draco’s “Jesus” (who made some laws). Do you think those rules are unfair? What is the legal way to get someones litter to be put in prison? In Singapore, people are more or less draconian about the ban on chewing gum in Singapore.

If your parents push you to do chores and you are required to do chores, they can’t stop being draconian. If you have five hours every day, how it works? But if it doesn’t, then it’s completely useless.

Is there anything I can contribute to help others?