Legal Definitions - scarlet-letter sentence

A scarlet-letter sentence is a type of shame sanction, which is a criminal sanction designed to stigmatize or disgrace a convicted offender. It often involves publicly associating the offender with the crime they committed, such as requiring them to post a sign in their yard stating their conviction. This type of sanction is also known as a shaming sanction, shaming sentence, scarlet-letter punishment, or scarlet-letter sentence.

For example, a convicted child molester may be required to post a sign in their yard stating their conviction. This publicly shames the offender and alerts the community about their crime. Another example is a court order that requires a company to publicly apologize for their wrongdoing in a newspaper advertisement. This type of sanction is intended to prompt the offender to take responsibility for their actions and deter others from committing similar crimes.