What is shaming?
Shaming is unique contributors to social control and criminal justice.
Shaming targets the non violent criminal offenders.
Ways in which justice is delivered
- The offenders in normal cases are made to carry signs announcing the crimes which they have committed.
- The offenders can also be made to put up signs in fronts of their homes or on their cars announcing their crimes.
- In other cases, the offender can be made to wear protective vests stamped with signs of their crimes and made to walk in public for some hours.
How it reduces reliance on prison
- It is a way to deter people from committing such crimes.
- It prevents those who commit petty crimes from imprisonment
Economic evaluation
The government has funded Shaming has proved to be beneficial and has received the support of state governments. Various states have enacted shaming laws. The cost spent on supporting prisons is significantly reduced
Benefits to offenders
It motivates them to change and it puts them in line with rehabilitation
Benefit to society
Strengthens the justice system and helps to reduce crime in the society
Limitations
- Implementation and enactment concerns
- Little research has been done to suggest its effectiveness
- There can Safety concerns for the convicts.
- Can lead to increase deviancy and drug abuse
Statistics
More than 50 percent of the inmates in the US are convicted of minor offences such as drunken driving, drug possession, white color crimes, and petty theft.
Around 100000 teenagers are held in facilities for juvenile justice. More than 70 percent of this figure is in public facilities which are funded by the government. Two decade ago, the number of juvenile inmates did not exceed 1000
The average cost of holding one juvenile is around $200 in just one day. A similar amount is required for holding an adult inmate within the public facilities.
Most public facilities for holding both juvenile and adult inmates have exceeded their capacity.
The introduction of alternative punishments, the pressure on public prisons is being significantly reduced.
The last decade has seen a drop in the number drug cases among juvenile but an increase among adult offenders.
Links
Gerry Vesar 2011 , Shame and Punishment, Retrieved from http://lakesideconnect.com/anger-and-violence/shame-and-punishment/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXrsvcF-cQs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yN1i0wQxdXE
