I did not remember this. This does kinda speak against the idea that it was by design. I mean one would presume that for it to be something that would deter people from crime, it would pretty much have to create the "brand" from the very first oath. I mean now you could potentially murder someone, take an oath against killing, and still not get the ageless look allowing you to move freely through the population with no consequence other than the reduced lifespan (and AS already live way more than others so its not as harsh a punishment as it should be).

Hmm. Unless ofcourse a single crime sometimes resulted in multiple oaths depending on the severity. I mean I could potentially see a murderer being bound with two oaths for example. One against killing ever again, and another that forces you to make up for the victims family/friend somehow. Or somesuch.

That might give the Aes Sedai some choice in the matter. If they wanted to show leniency, they could just bind the criminal once. And if they wanted to be harsher they could use several oaths, giving the brand which would he publicly humiliating.