Brian Bates, the video vigilante from Oklahoma, is serving up a form of justice long since lost to the criminal justice system -Shame! With his video camera he follows prostitutes as they conduct their business and then shames their clients by posting the videos on his website, johntv.com. The efficacy of his approach is proving to be a greater deterrent than any mere fine could ever be. The sheer embarrassment of being "outed" as a john in this way is enough to put off all but the most hardened customers.
Entertaining as these videos are, it begs a question: Why aren't we shaming all criminals? In an age when being sent to prison is a right of passage for many young offenders and a few months in the slammer only adds to their "street cred" why don't we take a leaf out of Brian's book and treat young thugs in a way that embarrasses and shames them?
If we want to stop an aspiring criminal from graduating to ever more violent and dangerous crimes, we shouldn't be dealing with him in a way that gains him "respect" from his buddies. This only encourages the younger delinquents to emulate his criminal behaviour.
Today we are more concerned with protecting a convict's identity and self respect under the all encompassing banner of human rights, than we are in effective punishment and deterrence. In medieval times the deterrent effect of humiliation and embarrassment were well known -they put offenders in The Stocks in the market square and invited passers by to jeer and throw rotting fruit at them.
Of course bringing back the stocks is not a serious suggestion, but there must be a modern equivalent. Perhaps parading young offenders around their neighbourhood dressed in nothing but a large nappy would make them feel stupid enough to change their ways. Or perhaps a stamp in indelible ink on their forehead that lasts for, say six months, telling the world of their crime. I'm sure no self respecting hoodie would appreciate having "thief", "rapist", "pervert" of "granny basher" stuck on his face for all to see. It might even result in younger gang members poking fun at them instead of thinking how hard he is and looking up to him.
If Johntv.com can teach us anything, it is that embarrassment, humiliation and shame in front of our own peer group is what keeps many of us on the straight and narrow. We should use it more often and more widely. Go Brian Bates, go.
