http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-23955695

Idiot<Imbecile<Moron
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idiot#Disability

I'm surprised there aren't laws agains that sort of unusual punishment. I'm pretty sure they couldn't do that here.

They can't. It would be illegal here.

But not there - local judges as they are elected have a lot of power as to what sort of punishments they can hand out

It would also keep many people out of jail. Some crimes do not justify the cost of imprisonment but we have community service.

I think they should be allowed to do it here. If embarrassment is an effective detterent why not use it? It's free pretty much.

You should put yourself in the position. Would you like to be made to stand outside your place of work with a sign saying I am an idiot for some theoretical crime? It would make working there impossible. Also most criminals never expect to be caught which is why the death penalty does not work as a deterrent. No body thinks that they will get caught so what might seem rational to most people simply does not apply.

No I wouldn't, which I why I wouldn't do the crime in the first place. Deterants work.

But you are rational and most criminals are not. You might not be in a position to need to commit a crime. If you are poor or greedy then it becomes more likely that you will commit a crime. Also if it really worked why are we constantly suffering prison overcrowding?

This is the modern equivalent of putting people I stocks. It's more about ridicule and embarrassment rather than rehabilitation, making repairs to society etc.. He has a drink problem, so surely some kind of support to help him with that and a spot of community service where he puts something back yes, people may see him picking up litter, but he's doing something constructive rather than just being humiliated.