Wal-Mart brands shoplifters with scarlet 'S': 1800s return to retail?

I am a legal assistant and our attorney does criminal shoplifting cases. Most of the time, the person doesn't even have to appear in court, but has to pay the fine, court cost and attorney fee. It blows my mind to know that they can pay all these fees to avoid showing their face in court, but they didn't have it at the time of their offense!

I love the idea!!! I work for Wal-Mart and not only are they taking fron the customers they are taking from our associates!!!!

In this article, Sarah Gilbert proves herself a moron, and an apologist for criminal behavior. (or else she's deliberately whoring for posts) So, every retailer should simply let everyone who steals from them go free? What percentage of sales should every company allocate to shoplifting, Ms. Gilbert? These people deserved much worse than they chose. There was no misunderstanding; the person who said that was outside the store with the goods. If you or anyone else thinks poorly of Wal-Mart, or think they make too much money, then don't shop there and encourage your everyone else to avoid them also. Stealing is simply stealing, a crime and not any noble or justifiable action.

I agree with what was done 100%. I am in my early 50's now, but when I was 9 yrs. old I was caught stealing from a neighborhood 5 & 10 cent store. There were 3 of us doing it, not for the goods, but to see who could take the most without getting caught. My mother found 2 drawers of unopened toys and contacted a friend of hers in the police dept. My brother, myself, and or next door neighbor were removed from class that day and had to stand accountable. The judge ordered us to work 3 Saturdays for that store stocking shelves,sweeping the sidewalk,cleaning windows,ect. AFTER WE HAND DELIVERED THE GOODS BACK TO THE STORE MANAGER AND APOLIGIZED FOR STEALING THEM. That was a turning point in my thinking and I have hated a thief since. I think it should be done more to humiliate and discourage shoplifters. I have respected that judges actions for years for showing me I was wrong and giving me a chance to make right for my error.
Ron

I don't steal....so everyone does not do it. I wish more stores would do this. They get put in jail and we the taxpayers get stuck paying the bill. I say put them out there for all to see. Tell our children this is what happens when you steal. We are not talking about food to eat in most cases..."STUFF" that is what is being stole and we pay the price. Yea to the judge and WalMart

I applaud Judge Robertson for coming-up with a viable solution to Wal-Mart's refusal to prosecute shoplifters. I feel Wal-Mart's decision to push the cost of theft onto their paying customers verges on aiding and abetting crime. More public awareness about this policy may earn some embarrassment for the decision-makers at Wal-Mart, and force more responsible leadership.

Great Idea!!! Public humiliation is a much better deterent than sending someone to our country club style jails. Next time take the guy's cell phone away and make him continually ring a bell while calling out, "I am a theif. I am a criminal. I am a theif . . . " Can you imagine the impact if every wife beater or child molester had to stand outside their place of business confessing to everyone what they do in their spare time. Cruel and unusual punishment my hiney! What's cruel and unusual is making me pay for other's bad behavior. Mary