January 24, 2007

WA: small-town diversion

This one's for Injustice Anywhere, from KOMO:

Shoplifters' choice: public humiliation? Or juvenile detention

Shoplifters caught at a Whatcom County store have two choices: a ride in a police car or public humiliation. If they chose the latter, they have to wear a T-shirt that announces to everyone they got caught stealing...

The owner of the 123-year-old Custer Country Store, Nicole Perry, ...did something no one before her had ever tried: she wanted to send young shoplifters a strong message, without sending them to juvenile detention.

(W)hen Nicole catches a kid stealing, she makes their parents an offer. Their kid can get picked up by police and go through the courts, or they can work off a $200 fine in the store. There's just one catch: The kid must work 26 hours wearing a bright orange T-shirt that reads, "I stole from the Custer Country Store."
(video)

2 Comments:

CM said...

They should be careful -- I can see that shirt becoming a status symbol. They should definitely make it more embarrassing.

Anonymous said...

I think I'm for public shaming when it's by the community and the parents...