Criminal justice changes through the ages.  Some people believe that present day
punishment is insufficient, that offenders get off too easy.  Some even favor the return of poena pilloralis (pee-neh  pil-eh-ray-lis), which is punishment by use of
the pillory, a wooden framework with holes through which an offender’s head and
hands are placed, usually in a forced standing position.  Typically, this was a public shaming, giving
other citizens an opportunity to stand around pointing and making fun of the
poor wretch’s humiliation. 

Under ecclesiastic law, there was something called a
finger pillory, a rather bizarre instrument that was a miniature stock used to
confine the fingers of a person who misbehaved during church services.  I would imagine it could have been aptly
utilized on nasty little brats who picked their noses while the prelate
pontificated, or played with themselves under their hymnals. 

We don’t see much public shaming of miscreants
anymore.  The so-called “perp walk” is
one, usually where high profile defendants are marched in cuffs from a jail to
a waiting vehicle for transport, all in front of media cameras. 

Not too long ago they had road gangs, as depicted in
the film “Cool Hand Luke” with Paul Newman, where prisoners wearing jail
stripes were forced to work along rural roadways clearing brush, but they weren’t
seen by many. 

Punishment these days cannot be what would be deemed
“cruel & unusual” and I suspect there would be ACLU lawyers jumping up and
down at the prospect of a town pillory in the public square.  Civilization advances and punishment decreases.  I suppose a good slap on the wrist could
sting, but not for too long.