On a return to the stocks

We all know that the US has more prisoners per capita than almost any other country in the world. For about 40 years now, I've been proposing an alternative -- the stocks. Here's my thinking:

Putting a person in prison for a relatively minor robbery first offense like breaking and entering a home to steal enough dough to buy the next batch of dope is counter-productive. It costs us lots of money to keep them there. While there, they learn the techniques and contacts needed to become much more effective robbers. While there, they lose virtually any way to earn an honest living once they get out (after all, who wants to employ an ex-con except the US Army?) And, when they get out, they almost always return to a life of crime because they can't figure out any other way to earn a living.

On the other hand, if you put these same people in the stocks in their own neighborhood for a couple of days, where they would be humiliated in front of their friends and neighbors -- maybe become the target for some water balloons and the like, most would likely be deeply distressed by the public humiliation in front of their macho friends. Then, release them on parole, assist them in getting a job, and force them to pay a portion of their income in restitution to those they stole from.

My guess is you'd see much less recidivism than we have now. The point, of course, is not the stocks per se. It's the public humiliation in front of their family, friends and neighbors.

I think it's at least worth a try.

Oh well, I'll remind you of this again forty years from now (if I'm still around then, which is highly unlikely).