Shoplifters ordered to wear sign ‘I am a thief’

[MidnightPrism]

Shoppers entering the Wal-Mart Supercenter here got a reminder not to try anything funny: Two shoplifters stood outside with signs reading “I am a thief, I stole from Wal-Mart.”

Attalla City Judge Kenneth Robertson Jr. ordered the two people to wear the signs for four hours each during two successive Saturdays.

“The only comments we’ve heard so far have been positive,” said store manager Neil Hawkins. “Most of them thought it was a good thing.”

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18533937?GT1=9951


Maybe I'm cruel, but I just love this sort of punishment

 

[Ninja108]

I've heard it done before with drunk drivers and drug users but I've found public humilation usually doesn't work in the long run. Does feel good though!

 

[quasar]

Must admit that I also like the idea of that kind of punishment, however, what's the bet that they'll be back in court in a year's time suing the local court for emotional distress caused by the public humiliation they had to suffer!!!

 

[PreTTy PeTe]

the judge is stupid

walmart is stupid

this whole thing is stupid

 

[Absolut]

 

[Brijan]

Maybe it isn't effective for the offenders long term, but is it effective as a deterrent?

 

[sixthson]

Maybe it isn't effective for the offenders long term, but is it effective as a deterrent?

I think it could certainly be a deterent. I would imagine anyone thinking of stealing when they enter the store would have second thoughts after seeing someone else's public humiliation...at least that day.

 

[Brijan]

This seems to be a way to waste money. Why not have them work off the debt with community service or servitude to the business?

Between training (or lack thereof,) standards/protocol to be met/followed, and motivation to do a good job, "servitude" isn't practical.

 

[PreTTy PeTe]

Between training (or lack thereof,) standards/protocol to be met/followed, and motivation to do a good job, "servitude" isn't practical.

eh????

speak English boy.

 

[Brijan]

eh????

speak English boy.

That WAS English!

 

[quasar]

eh????

speak English boy.

Ah bless! You've gotta love him!

 

[Brijan]

he means speak slowly... wait how do you speak slowly on a forum

I could pretend I'm speaking to grades ones... but that might come off as condescending.

 

[PreTTy PeTe]

That WAS English!

oh i see you a caker

click here

sorry about that.

 

[Brijan]

oh i see you a caker

click here

sorry about that.

Sure, see if I talk to you like a grade one now!

 

[Horschallen]

Cheaper than putting someone in jail for a few days, which would have cost us taxpayers of our hard earned cash.

 

[PreTTy PeTe]

Sure, see if I talk to you like a grade one now!

so did the eye-talians beat you up in the first grade.

just asking

 

[Homoerectus]

Let's get the FULL story. The thieves had a choice of jail time or 2 hours at the store with their signs. It was their choice. They chose the punishment. PrettyPete, I guess you agree with Paris Hilton that 45 days in jail for violating her DUI parole and driving w/o license is "Unfair".

 

[jwest]

last 40 seconds...

 

[Brijan]

so did the eye-talians beat you up in the first grade.

just asking

First of all, it wasn't grade one, it was grade two.

And second of all it wasn't the eye-talians at all, it was a girl named Donna. She had red hair.

 

[Zeremonie]

Maybe it isn't effective for the offenders long term, but is it effective as a deterrent?

I don't think this really works.

In terms of what is effective as a deterrent, the best theory I know of is sociologist's Jack Gibbs' Deterrence Theory. His theory (very over simplified) is that there are 3 main factors in determining whether something is a good deterrent: Certainty, Celerity and Severity.

So if you know that if you do something horrendous and could get the death penalty, well, that maybe severe but it's far from certain. The death penalty is also not quick (celerity). In otherwords, assuming you do earn the death penalty, by the time you get executed many many many years will have gone by.

Essentially those 3 factors are constantly working with each other, and so it's a mistake to think that threatening a harsh sentence will deter anyone from anything if it is not quick and certain.

Whereas if I am speeding down the road and I get a speeding ticket, that happens immediately, and it's pretty certain I will get a ticket (and other negative consequences) though it's really not all that severe. (speeding tickets really don't costs that much - a suit for work costs a lot more).

That was way too boring and long, but I think it's a very interesting theory (to me) and worth thinking abstractly about.