A Communal Response to a Criminal

One who willingly violates a prohibition may be excommunicated immediately. The Rama adds that one who is worthy of excommunication should be excommunicated even if that means that, as a result, they will turn to even further evil ways.

I am shocked at these words (of the Rama)! How can we focus on the prohibition that this person did if, by doing so, will bring that person to further their evil ways Chas V'Shalom.

I've been troubled by this question (of whether to excommunicate a criminal) my whole life because there is the possibility of the Torah being diminished and there is no way to force the wicked from their ways and, about this, I pray every day that I should not make a mistake in judgement...Once we concern ourselves with the possibility that the violator will turn further away, the Torah will be annulled altogether, because once it becomes known that out of this concern we turn our eyes away from the wicked, evildoers will continue sinning, and theft, violence, adultery and the like will abound, and Torah will be fulfilled only by a small remnant...While I have written all this as Halacha, nevertheless, the leader of each generation must be very cautious in regard to such matters, because not everybody is the same, and not all sins are the same...A person who is accustomed to sinning and feels confident with himself in his claim, we do not concern ourselves with him, and we uphold the Torah, come what may. But if he is not accustomed, and he will likely listen, we draw him close with words until he returns somewhat, and we do not rush to punish him, because this can lead to negative outcomes...Everything must be done as the judge and leader sees fit, provided that all his actions are done for the sake of Heaven.

The Rama says that the Jewish Court has the right to impose upon this criminal that his children will not be circumcised, that he will not be given a Jewish burial, to banish his children from their school, and his wife from attending their shul until he accepts his judgement.