Variation on that concept — I think people should serve a maximum of 5 years in jail in their lifetime.
If your jail sentences put you over 5 years total over your lifetime, or if you have committed a crime for which 5 years seems inadequate, I would go straight to execution. I do not believe in warehousing people, I don’t like repeat offenders, and I think a great many people have no place in decent society.
Many societies simply can’t afford prolonged imprisonment—there was a reason for involuntary servitude.