June Tangney's Condemn The Crime, Not The Person

Condemn the Crime, Not the Person

June Tangney is the author of “Condemn the Crime, Not the Person”. Tangney is a Psychology educator as well as a researcher. Earning a master degree and doctorate from the University of California. A co- author of several books – Self -Conscious Emotions: Handbook of Self-identity, and Shame in the Therapy Hour to name a few.

This essay describes different ideas of shaming and the effects. The police system is looking for cheaper ways to slow down the crime rate of nonviolent crimes. shaming offenders like slum lords, by having them put a drunk driver’s sticker on their car or a slum lord will work first hand with low income homes to rebuild them with appropriate materials.

This alternative is cheaper than

going to jail, but the price is still stiff for the accused. Shaming can lead to the individual not knowing the difference between being ashamed or guilty. They can feel lower than low, open to ridicule, hostile to other people or a feeling of unworthiness. Even though a lot of thought has gone into this new bout to save money, the average volunteer may feel uncomfortable as well with his service. Tangney doubts if the volunteer will be upset, and will welcome the change. (Tangney; “Condemn the Crime, Not the Person,” pp 578-79)
Personally I disagree with Tangney. When a person does something wrong, and gets away with it, how are they being accountable for what they have done? Shaming is there to put the individual in an uncomfortable space. No one wants to have their short coming open to public eyes, In short, by making the offender uncomfortable by displaying his faults in public for all to see may shame him in not doing it again or may cause him to do more harm.
Some police departments like the one in Bedford, Pa, had a mother (55 ) and her daughter (35) were given the choice of public humiliation or harsh sentencing . the duo stole from a little girl on her birthday. The pair settled on standing in front of the courthouse holding a sigh reading.” I stole from a 9 - year old on her birthday! Don’ steal or this could happen to you ! “ (Turley, Jonathan) Even though I do not agree with public shaming , I would have had the pair go to jail for what they did. Just because the duo wore the sign does not mean they will not steal money again, they just got caught. If they could steal from a child… wearing a sign for a couple of hours is a piece of cake.

Everyone can not mentally handle shaming, some will feel that they are being humiliated, which will make them feel transparent and small.

This feeling can cause the offender to become defensive. Tangney states that “shame serves to escalate the vary destructive patterns of behavior we aim to curb”. (June Tangney “Condemn the Crime Not the Person,” pg. 557) Judges have the authority to put people behind bars, but now would rather humiliate people to the lowest degree possible. For their gain, Joe Arpaio, the Arizona sheriff who was famous for having his inmates wear pink underwear to humiliate them . The Texas Judge Buddie Hahn sentenced a “abusive father to sleep in a dog house for 30 days.” The public shaming made the judges more famous than the ordeal .No I do not condone public shaming.(Turley,

Jonathan)
A Teen in Tacoma Washington , was so publicly ashamed by her father , that she jumped from a moving car and jumped from a highway overpass, and later died as a result.(Tribune Media service) No I am not a fan for public shaming, the consequences are too high.
Shaming is like a double edge sword, on one hand the sentence serves for cost reduction on the government for incarceration of low class offences.

Amital Etzioni, a professor at George Washington University states that “it is more effective and cheaper than putting then in jail where they may become more skilled criminals .“

For instance If a drunk driver Is caught driving drunk, he will be sentenced to putting a sticker on his car or lawn. The same will go for a dead beat dad, if he does not pay child support, a sign should be put in his yard or a sticker on his car as well. If the offender cannot handle the shaming process, then the incarceration will take place.

Some crimes do not have to resort to being put in jail. This is where he the alternative come in at . Like for drunk drives, A.A, or if a person has a bad anger problem, have them go to anger management before he harms someone. Some are low enough offences that can be solved without shaming. Tapping into the feelings of individuals to behave in a more responsible manner in the future by fostering constructive behavior. Researchers have stated that “public shaming and humiliation is not the path of choice”. (June Tangney “Condemn the Crime Not the Person,” pg. 578) but it is a more affordable

alternative.

References
Alfred. R., Eschholz.,2015 Models for Writers Short Essays for Composition 12th edition
Tangney J. “Condemn the Crime, Not the Person.’ (pp. 578-79)
Cracknell, D Political Editor source : Sunday Times, The “ Guru of shame advises Blair” 05/22/2005
Tribune Media Service; Posted 12.01 p.m. June 5,2015
Turley, J. Source: USA Today “Shaming undermines justice” 11/17/2009 ISSN : 0734-7456 Kendall Library
Editorial :Online exposure amounts to outside penalty for alleged offenders. Source: Portland Press Herald ( ME). 05/07/2015 Dept: Article Accession number: 2W6768251689 Kendall Library
Portland Press Herald (ME) 05/07/2015 Document type : Article Data Base: Newspaper source.