Bring Back the Stocks!
By ParaTed2k
@ParaTed2k (22940)
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
June 7, 2007 9:35am CST
The release of Paris Hilton from Jail to House Arrest has me thinking about a concept I have advocated for a long time now.
We need to bring back the stocks!
Think about it, what harm do stocks do really? We could make them ergonomically sound so they wouldn't even do any damage to the person's back, neck or wrists.
The purpose of prison is to separate the violent from society. There's no reason to lock up non-violent offenders. However, even the non-violent like Paris Hilton need to be given their just due.
The person would be sentenced to a length of time on house arrest. During that time, they would be brought from home to very public place and put in the stocks for several hours per day, then brought home again.
This would cost the taxpayers very little, the offender would have to feed, house, entertain and take care of themselves. The stocks would add a degree of humiliation that has been lacking for far too long in our penal system.
What do you say, I think we should do it!
4 people like this
6 responses
@muppetsnap (229)
• Canada
7 Jun 07
Mental abuse is still abuse. And public shaming can cause much greater harm to the posibilites of rehabilitation - already a huge issue for those with criminal records.
On the other hand, you can see some of the imaginative sentencing that judges will dole out when they have freer rein to do so. There are more interesting and appropriate ways to find fitting punishments.
2 people like this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
7 Jun 07
Please, explain to me how humiliation is "mental abuse". We have worried so much about the comforts of people in prison we forget they are supposed to be being punished.
Convicted offenders should be embarrassed, not coddled and protected from scrutiny.
For minor infractions, like shoplifting, petty theft, or not paying parking tickets, it could even be just a few hours over a few days. No police record would even have to be established for first time offenders and no jail space would have to be used up.
1 person likes this
@muppetsnap (229)
• Canada
7 Jun 07
I can't explain how humiliation is mental abuse - it's pretty much the textbook definition of it. I'm all for better ways to punish offenders, especially given the cost of prison and it's negative effects. But it's also wrong for society to be vengeful and hurtful - we are supposed to be better than the petty thugs we want to punish.
2 people like this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
7 Jun 07
So you're saying that a few hours a day in the stocks is "vengeful and hurtful" but weeks, months and even years in prison is humane?
1 person likes this
@ESKARENA1 (18260)
•
7 Jun 07
yes the stocks are a great idea, and what about branding too? thats a great way of marking a criminal. My trouble is the nagging question, why did we get rid of them in the first place? seems to be some idea about civilisation and dragging ourselves out of the swamp, but there are always those who would happily have us going back into it
blessed be
2 people like this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
7 Jun 07
Ok, now that you've had your fun, defend your position. How is it more "civilized" to lock people up in cages to be supported by the taxpayers? This would punish them for their non-violent crimes with them continuing to support themselves.
Tell me Mr. Civilization, what is uncivilized about ergonomic stocks? Tell me how they are uncivilized, but locking violent criminals up with non-violent ones "civilized"?
I can back my position, let's hear if you can back yours.
2 people like this
@ESKARENA1 (18260)
•
7 Jun 07
id be interested in how you back mob rule and public humiliation as penal policy. We got rid of such things as the stocks because they didnt work, simple really
2 people like this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
7 Jun 07
When did I say anything about "mob rule"? Stick to what I did say please.
I am simply advocating a non painful way of short term punishment as an alternative to longer term confinement of people who have no need to be locked away with violent criminals.
Please, explain to me how sure embarrassment is so terrible? While your at it, please explain to me how punishment for offenses shouldn't be pretty bad.
1 person likes this
@redyellowblackdog (10629)
• United States
11 Jun 07
The logical answer to your question about bringing back stocks as punishment is to look up the history concerning it. Then conduct a limited experiment to see how well it works.
I'm thinking letters and books from the times when stocks were abandoned must still exist in libraries of universities. That would tell us why they really stopped using them.
A limited experiment with sentencing minor criminals to stocks would tell us if it would work now.
Think of the deterient value of your picture on the cover of National Enguirer or Weekly World News all trussed up in a nice shiney set of polished wooden stocks.
I can even think of a politician or two who would look good there.
2 people like this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
11 Jun 07
True, real research and true conclusions would help this idea. The problem is, so many people just think it's terrible, it would be hard to do accurate research.
1 person likes this
@gewcew23 (8007)
• United States
10 Jun 07
I love the idea of public embarrassment, as a deterant for crimes. If we want to make it historical, we shouldn't only put Paris in stocks, but we should throw rotten food at her. That is what the colonialist did. Could you imagine Paris Hilton locked up in the stocks, while people throw tomatoes at her? I bet that would fix her attitude problem.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
11 Jun 07
Why insult rotten food like that? ;~D
Her attitude problem can only be fixed when she realizes that there is something bigger than herself... so far her life has shown her that she is all that matters to anyone.
1 person likes this
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
11 Jun 07
A person like Paris would thrive on the stocks. The cameras would be there as she asked for her moiturizer and sun screen. I am sure the news stations would set up a web cam so we could watch live.
Maybe she should do some community service, cleaning up the sides of the roads, or homeless shelters, working in a soup kitchen.
She is lower then low.
1 person likes this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
11 Jun 07
I don't think she'd thrive. People think she is all about attention, so I can see why you would think she'd be loving something like the stocks. The thing is, while she is all about attention, she is about attention on HER terms. Her entire "medical problem" has to do with her not being able to control the situation. She is finally being told she HAS to do something... and she can't handle it.
Community service would be wasted on her. She would do little to nothing except mug for the cameras that would most assuredly be there. She and her handlers would make sure she was painted as the little victim.
1 person likes this
@youdontsay (3497)
• United States
12 Jun 07
I'm curious about how much her medical problem has to do with detoxing.
1 person likes this
@toe_ster (770)
• United States
7 Jun 07
Interesting. I agree housing non violent criminals like paris hilton is a good idea. Maybe not stocks but a different type of jail. Less security but same rules apply. Criminals do need to pay their dues, but it is not like anyone shuld have to put their life at risk in a jail cell with a murderer for a less infraction. Especially first time offenders. I don't know how it all works. I should learn more beofre I open my mouth. Sorry.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
7 Jun 07
Exactly, putting non violent offenders with violent people is much more cruel and unusual than the stocks could ever be.
Just harmless humiliation that might just make them think twice about reoffending.
1 person likes this
