-rarely is death public. There are only two times that I can think of when someone was killed in the town square.
-the death rate for detained criminals is low (~5% for regular criminals, but ~80% for "magic users")
-freed criminals have their "good name" reinstated, by way of the leadership stating publicly that so and so will be coming outside when he or she wakes up, that he or she has been very cooperative and resolved the problem, and should no longer be considered criminal.
-An explaination usually accompanies bodies that are brought outside, whether they were killed or died from sleeping sickness, etc.
-companions of detainees are treated with sensitivity, which the public sees.
-the laws note says (said?) that people just have to be cooperative if they find themselves in trouble, so someone who can't get themselves out of trouble is generally viewed by the public to be an idiot or determined trouble-maker, rather than a "victim".
-residents themselves seem to feel safe from the regime, and only one resident has ever been put to death. (a magic user who was trying to blackmarket iron out of the Forest)
This info may be about 100 days out of date
