How can we turn the tide on violent behavior?

Violent behavior throughout history has always been a problem.It seams that no matter the punishment that has been delt has any affect on the people continuing or starting  to commit crimes. I often wonder whether corpral punishment has much if any affect on criminals minds. People, even criminals dont like crimes against themselves, yet are willing to do crimes against other people..There seems to be no end. I am wondering what if any punishment may help us live in a friendlier world.