new sentence

[mr_thebrain]

what the hell?

what ever happened to giving fines for this sort of thing. what kind of punishment is this?!

[VelvetElvis]

It's common punishment around here.

One young man called a police officer a pig and had to walk a (rather adorable) potbellied pig around the Justice center for several hours. The pig was wearing a sign/shirt that said "This is not a law enforcement officer."

People who steal from walmart are given signs to wear that say "I'm a WalMart theif" and have to stand at the entrance to WalMart.

[mr_thebrain]

wow, ya'll 're weird down there.

[VelvetElvis]

I think it's a good punishment.

[fawkes]

I think creative sentencing might be better than a few days in prison. For one thing, nonviolent crimes, like the guy who lied (not including perjury) and the pig guy, aren't really jail-worthy offences, and fines don't teach anybody a lesson. I'll bet those guy's won't be doing anything like that again.

[mr_thebrain]

psychological abuse though. i'd prefer a night in jail over abuse over a petty crime. just screwy is all.

[fawkes]

Yeah, but there's other kinds of abuse you could endure in jail. A little humiliation is better than getting beaten within an inch of your life by your fellow inmates (and I won't even mention the other possibilities)

[mr_thebrain]

i think you're thinking about a penetentury or whatever they are. most local and county holding cells aren't so bad.

other than that. usually that sort of stuff earns a fine. little more.

[fawkes]

Even in a holding cell, it's likely you'll be shacked up with a couple of violent cell-mates, though chances are an officer will be more likely to help you there.

[VelvetElvis]

Prison affects you psycologically, too.

Also, minor offenders here usually (though not always) get a choice of punishment. Community service or ___ time in jail. Driving school or paying the ticket. The signs are offered instead of community service in some cases.

I'm fairly sure the sign solution was instituted to help with prison overcrowding, but I haven't lived here my entire life, so I'm not sure.

[Buggerwugger]

Just one thing to ask.

where can I get one of those shirts?


Unless theres some law against making a mockery of punishments or something. Then I'll get my own shirt with "Point and laugh because I think punishment is funny."

Of course I'd wear it with pride.

[neo-dragon]

psychological abuse though. i'd prefer a night in jail over abuse over a petty crime. just screwy is all.

Since when is punishment supposed to accommodate what the offender wants? The fact that you'd rather take the night in jail might just might prove why a more creative punishment is better. I think that a little bit of humiliation can really teach someone a lesson that they won't soon forget.

[mr_thebrain]

cruel and unusual

i'd take it to court!

[ti_ama]

Hang 'im by his ankles for a few hours!

[hive_king]

I see nothing wrong with this punishment. I mean, it's a better way to teach a lesson, in my opinion. Plus its funny.

[zeroguy]

psychological abuse though. i'd prefer a night in jail over abuse over a petty crime. just screwy is all.

Since when is punishment supposed to accommodate what the offender wants?

Well, this particular guy was given a choice.... He did choose this punishment over whatever you normally get for a false police report.

[Dr. Mobius]

Personally, I'd kinda like to get one of those Wal-Mart thief signs and walk around the store wearing it just to see what sort of responses I get. Or maybe I could find or make a shirt...