Comment

Comment by Giorgio on April 1, 2009 at 2:45pm

Of coarse that would be the ideal thing to do, have rehabilitation, i think that is the best option. This sentence is only for minor offenses, victimless crimes. You know anything court ordered, wether its community service or A.A. is done half ass-ed, it would be a waste of money.

Comment by The Man on April 1, 2009 at 8:18am

Well the jail time isn't the only other option. I think a rehabilitation of the motives behind the stealing, or some sort of assistance and understanding of why someone would do something like that. And look, stealing isn't the only crime there is. What about rape of a little kid? Rather have them wear a board instead of facing jail time?

Comment by Giorgio on April 1, 2009 at 2:42am

Well that person is stealing... which is a crime... How would they pay thousand dollar fines if they cant pay for jeans, This is an alternative to incarceration. I think being locked up is very humiliating.

Comment by The Man on March 31, 2009 at 11:35am

If someone was caught stealing clothing from a dept. store, would you want that person to wear something that tells about the "crime" he committed? And then shame him as if this was some sort of colonial American time period?

Are we not more enlightened that to shame someone of a crime they have committed? So the gov't is basically saying that they can't think of anything else.

Comment by Giorgio on March 31, 2009 at 9:56am

I think that as an alternative to jail time, a delinquent will be forced to think of what he is getting away with by not being locked up and they themselves might realize that wearing a sandwich board is a pretty lenient sentence, as humiliating as it is i believe it would prevent them from committing crimes. But i feel it borders on immoral but at the same time it's just being dishonored in public, we all care what others think, right?

Comment by JulsnMatt1028 on March 31, 2009 at 12:02am

hmm, yeah maybe if they had to wear it while performing community service... then yeah that would be cool.

Comment by Ana on March 30, 2009 at 11:05pm

I don't think its completely ineffective...I know that if i was ever caught stealing something like a candy bar and then had to wear a sign saying what I did, I would definitely be ashamed and never want to put myself in that situation again. So as a first offense I think try the shaming method, but the sign should be applicable to the crime and it should be worn while performing community service. Because it could work and if there's a second offense, jail time.

Comment by Annalisa on March 30, 2009 at 3:35pm

It makes me think of taring and feathering...wearing a board is kind of silly and archaic. The boards might evolve into wearing electronic bracelets in the future.

Comment by The Man on March 30, 2009 at 11:05am

I don't think it will be effective because it's not going to solve anything. But it may be worth doing instead of facing jail time. I think it has it's up and downs.

I agree with Matt only that everyone should know who is a sex offender, but I don't agree about finding out by having them walk around with signs saying that they are sex offenders. It's unprofessional and stupid. Ya know what, I think the whole I idea is stupid, this isn't the Salem Witch Hunt era anymore!

Comment by JulsnMatt1028 on March 30, 2009 at 9:37am

Ineffective and in fact will most likely only further feed the negative behavior. By further casting that person as "this type of person", it will only be even more difficult to shake the stigma they have in their minds about being no good or worthless. Court ordered community service for minor crimes would be a much effective means allowing people to repay the community for a crime they've committed.

In the case of the sex offenders though, I think that it's VERY important to let people know what this persons history is in this regard. That's more of a public safety issue and people have that right to be informed about these potential dangers.

Good question though!