Shaming sanctions make it to Wal-mart

As detailed in this AP article, shaming sanctions have made it all the way to the world’s biggest retailer:

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.” 

One of the shoplifters, Lisa King Fithian, 46, wore the sign from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to avoid a 60-day jail sentence.  Another convicted shoplifter was at the store from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Eight hours of shaming in lieu of 60 days in jail sounds like a Wal-mart bargain to me.  (This exchange rate would mean roughly a week of shaming instead of a year of prison, and six months of shaming for the likes of Bernie Ebbers instead of his 25 years in prison.)

Some posts on shaming sanctions:

• Another dog for the sentencing hall of shame
• A Chinese shaming stirs controversy and debate
• More shame, shame on you
• Weekend reading on shaming punishments
• The state of shaming punishments (with lots of links)
• What punishments really undermine human dignity?
• Shaming punishments and communitarianism