This is an interesting conundrum, because physical punishment at its most basic level, is ineffective. Restriction of rights is antithetical to what the Korps stands for, so to me, repentance is self-administered, not through brute force, but via the choice to change.
If one commits truly heinous acts, only their victims can provide forgiveness, not some arbitrary reduction of their right to exist, though it can be more complicated than that, given scope. Could a shitty cop could work to being a better person? Prove themselves, their desire for repentance, understanding that they were wrong, and genuinely wanting to work towards something better? That's the bare minimum, but I believe it's possible, and I don't think putting the boots to them is going to magically awaken this within someone.
Getting your ass beat will cause very few revelations beyond: I don't want to have my ass beaten anymore.
For most adversaries the Korps face? They have no regret, so harsher responses are required. Sometimes there is no saving them. Some folks? They don't want to change.
I don't speak for the entirety of the Korps obviously, these are just my thoughts on the subject, but who doesn't love a good redemption arc?
That's one of the things that was always a key point in my writing. There was always a redemption arc available, but only for people who wanted to change.
You could be an ex-cop, former military, repentant politician, reformed religious figure, whatever. It didn't matter where you came from, if you're here to better yourself and the world around you, the Korps was there to help. The organization is chock full of criminals and "mad scientists", there's room for you and your skills no matter where you got them. Caroline was a military & Aurora contractor when she came into a haul contract with the Korps and changed sides. (after some learning)
If someone who's spent half a lifetime working for the proverbial enemy, and suddenly they've come around and want to put their life, their effort, their years of accumulated knowledge and experience into your cause... you don't need to punish them. That person has obviously had some experience that already turned them around. You don't take someone who's come to your organization bringing all that and an open heart and immediately punish them. That's now how it works in real life, it will earn you no allies. Keep an eye on them, test them, watch after them for sure, but don't turn them out at the door.
As for what the organization does with the utterly irredeemable, remorseless monsters who arrive at the door looking for blood? Well, you give them the conflict they've come for.
At least that's how I always approached it.
Be better. Learn from your mistakes. Grow. Be better.
Minerva:From the Korps perspective that I exist in? I'm in the Korps. In my storyline I've been in the fucking Korps for a long time, but I? I did some horrible shit before I was recruited. I took out my anger on vengeance on the wrong people yo. I went fucking apeshit in an office building and splutched people who were just doing their jobs. Just cogs in the machine. That's on me, and that's always gonna be on me. But I try to do better. I do my fuckin' utmost to not kill anymore. Go outta my fuckin' way. But still sometimes, you gotta. Sometimes there's a cop. Sometimes there's a cape you just can't do anything else with. Sometimes- yeah. Bodies man. They haunt you. Every last one yo. Every last one. I mean totes. Lectures from Tzadik, I got an earful before, and physical punishment? That's nothing like the disappointment of someone you look up too. Like Aellae said. Everyday, be better. Don't let the wrongs have been for nothing. Let them be hard fuckin' lessons pushin' you to be better.

