I'm a thief

Recently, shoppers outside a Wal-Mart Supercenter near Attalla AL were greeted not by tables of youth groups with their fundraisers but instead, by two people wearing sandwich boards. Attalla City Kenneth Robertson Jr had ordered two convicted shoplifters to wear the signs reading "I'm a thief. I stole from Wal-Mart." for four hours each on two successive Saturdays.
Lisa King Fithian said that people outside had commented to her that it was "cruel" for her to wear the sign and maintained her innocence of the charge. Fithian though had chosen to do that rather than serve a 60 day sentence in jail for the conviction.

"The only comments we've heard so far have been positive. Most of them thought it was a good thing." stated Neil Hawkins, store manager.

Hawkins felt that maybe others would think twice about shoplifting there now that they have seen the embarressment that could result in their being caught. A recent Ninth US Circuit of Appeals decision has upheld the constitutionality of a similar sentence in the case of a man convicted of mail theft. That man was sentenced to wear a sign reading "I stole mail. This is my punishment" outside the San Francisco post office. The appeals court ruled that the sentence was reasonably related to rehabilitation, deterrance and public protection and did not violate the defendent's constitutional rights to be free from cruel and unusual punishment.
We are now centuries removed from the days of using a "Scarlet Letter" to punish and humiliate the guilty but this form of sentence may be seeing a revival in recent years. This may stem from the feelings of some that our current prison system is inadequate in it's mission of punishment or rehabilitation. In the near future, you may notice more sandwich boards proclaiming a person's guilt and quite possibly with the technology available........ we will enjoy them lighting up the night.