Public humiliation for domestic abusers?

A judge in North Carolina this month gave three men a choice: plead guilty to domestic violence and hold a sign outside the courthouse saying "This is the face of domestic violence," or go to jail. The men chose to hold the sign. 

This is not the first time in recent history that a judge has used public shaming as an alternative sentence. An Ohio resident was ordered to stand on a street corner holding a sign that read, "Only an idiot would drive on the sidewalk to avoid a school bus." An Alabama judge forced two shoplifters to wear signs that said, "I am a thief, I stole from Wal-Mart." There are many other examples across the United States.

These sorts of alternative sentences usually hold up in court, so long as they are intended to decrease the likelihood of someone re-offending.

Supporters of public shaming sentences argue that these citizens are lucky not to miss work or school while in jail. They believe public humiliation is a more than fair trade for the harms committed during a crime.

Opponents of public shaming argue that shaming is vengeance, not justice, and it will do nothing to correct a person's behavior or address underlying causes of a crime. The humiliation and anger caused by public shaming may even make a person more likely to lash out violently in another offense.

Do you support public shaming as an alternative sentence? Share your opinion in the comments below.