See, the problem is that it doesn't make sense to give him what he wants because then it isn't punishment. Suppose the crime for shop lifting is a BJ from Neve Campbell. I'd be walking out of every store in the country with some merchandise because the punishment would never work on me.
Now I understand that if someone dies they can't commit a crime...however, if the enemy believes that they'll die a martyr either way it gives them more incentive to attack the "great satan"