Michael Cicconetti has a well-known sense of humor.

Michael Cicconetti believes that the punishment should fit the crime.

Michael Cicconetti happens to be the municipal judge who just sentenced a man to wear a dog costume after shooting his Great Dane in the head.

The man in question, a Robert Clark, pled no contest to one count of animal cruelty. His sentence had been reduced to 30 days in jail, as Clark had agreed to pay the dog's vet bills. Judge Cicconetti then offered to knock another 20 off if Clark promised to dress up as "Safety Pup" and visit the local elementary schools in Painesville (near Cleveland, Ohio).

Apparently, Judge Cicconetti has a reputation for unorthodox sentencing, as the article notes. While amusing, this anecdote raises two serious points; proportionate sentencing and the relative value of shame.

Looking at sentences handed down by Cicconetti in the past, it's clear he is a firm believer in "break it, you bought it"--criminals making a positive contribution to society by helping fix whatever harm they have done (Clark picking up the tab on the dog's vet bill and the speeders who served as crossing guards come to mind). Rather than taxpayer money being spent on mere incarceration, why not have the offender engage in some atonement?

Second, while the costume part of the sentence was not necessarily intented to humiliate Clark, it does air his criminal guilt in a far more public fashion than is the norm. Of course it was the norm two hundred and fifty years ago, when the scarlet "A" and spending a few days in the pillory were stock punishments for misdemeanors. Of course, these punishments are far too draconian for the twenty-first century, but there is something to be said for stigmatizing criminal behavior.

If more sentences were handed out with the intent of shaming those found guilty, perhaps there would be an appreciable decrease in criminal activity.