Convict Inside: A Modern Scarlet Letter In a very controversial move, judges have started to punish certain criminals in a new way. Criminals have been given the choice between a prison sentence or probation and the placement of a sign in front of their house stating their crime. Many of them have chosen the sign over prison. These punishments, however, have raised an important question: should we use public punishment? The answer isn’t always clear. Public punishment should be used in some cases, but there are many where it seems over the top. In cases of violent criminals, such as sex offenders or even murderers, it makes perfect sense to use signs notifying others of a criminal. These signs can warn people of a potentially dangerous neighbor and force the criminal to acknowledge their wrongdoing. Many may argue that public shaming has never worked, but even if it doesn’t make the criminal feel remorse, it can still prevent others from committing a similar crime. …show more content…
In some cases, those who have been given the signs have become too ashamed to even leave the house. Although it may seem counterintuitive, it forces the offender to acknowledge their crime. As Judge J. Manuel Bañales told one offender, it will keep them honest. By posting the signs, neighbors are also aware of their crimes and will be wary of suspicious activity. This can not only keep neighbors and passerby safe, but assist the police. It has even been noted that, although they may not necessary stop offenders from repeated crime, it did make it easier to arrest them later. In this way, public punishment has been shown to keep communities