Legal Definitions - scarlet-letter punishment

Definition: Scarlet-letter punishment is a type of shame sanction that publicly stigmatizes or disgraces a convicted offender. It is often used to alert the public about the offender's conviction and to associate them with the crime they committed. An example of this is requiring a convicted child molester to post a sign in their yard stating "Convicted Child Molester Lives Here."

Examples:

• A convicted drunk driver being required to wear a shirt with a large letter "D" on it to signify their offense.
• A person convicted of animal cruelty being required to volunteer at an animal shelter for a certain amount of hours each week.

These examples illustrate how scarlet-letter punishment is used to publicly shame and stigmatize offenders as a form of punishment for their crimes. It is meant to serve as a deterrent to others who may consider committing similar offenses.