rockin'robin
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Judge Uses Public Humiliation To Deter Crime
PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. -- A Putnam County judge sentenced a teen with a public punishment for shoplifting.
Britney Ernst was the latest person sentenced to carry a sign outside the courthouse allowing everyone to read that she broke the law. Judge Peter Miller sentenced her to carrying a sign saying, "I Stole From A Local Store" outside the Putnam County Courthouse.
It is a punishment Judge Miller has used for many years. Channel 4 spoke to him about the punishment a few years ago, and he's still doing it now.
"They hate it," he said. "That means I'm doing something right."
Ernst, however, said the punishment is not really embarrassing, because she has done it before.
Channel 4's Scott Johnson spoke to former Gainesville state attorney Rod Smith to see if the punishment deters people from committing crime. He said no form of punishment is perfect.
Smith said, however, even if the punishment does not stop a person from becoming a repeat offender, it can save taxpayers money by not putting someone in jail. In addition, he said it sends the public a message.
"One of the deterrents of that type of conduct and you would hope that there are consequences to shoplifting and it's one that's realized by you and your family and friends," Smith said.
Britney, however, doesn't seem to mind.
"It's good exercise," she said.
Girl Sentenced For Shoplifting, Carries Sign - Jacksonville News Story - WJXT Jacksonville
PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. -- A Putnam County judge sentenced a teen with a public punishment for shoplifting.
Britney Ernst was the latest person sentenced to carry a sign outside the courthouse allowing everyone to read that she broke the law. Judge Peter Miller sentenced her to carrying a sign saying, "I Stole From A Local Store" outside the Putnam County Courthouse.
It is a punishment Judge Miller has used for many years. Channel 4 spoke to him about the punishment a few years ago, and he's still doing it now.
"They hate it," he said. "That means I'm doing something right."
Ernst, however, said the punishment is not really embarrassing, because she has done it before.
Channel 4's Scott Johnson spoke to former Gainesville state attorney Rod Smith to see if the punishment deters people from committing crime. He said no form of punishment is perfect.
Smith said, however, even if the punishment does not stop a person from becoming a repeat offender, it can save taxpayers money by not putting someone in jail. In addition, he said it sends the public a message.
"One of the deterrents of that type of conduct and you would hope that there are consequences to shoplifting and it's one that's realized by you and your family and friends," Smith said.
Britney, however, doesn't seem to mind.
"It's good exercise," she said.
Girl Sentenced For Shoplifting, Carries Sign - Jacksonville News Story - WJXT Jacksonville