Criminological Critique of Media Exposure

Exposure to public scorn is a punishment through which the condemned party is introduced to people. In the Islamic Punishment Code (1392/2013), exposure to public scorn has been taken in account in the form of publishing the sentence in media (media exposure). Criminologically speaking, public exposure has some advantages and disadvantages. Distrust in testimony of liar, anti-promotional effect, modification of media picture of crimes … are among advantages of public exposure; and, conflict with human munificence and privacy, promotion of criminal populism, promotion of media platitude,inefficiency … are among its disadvantages. Public exposure has more disadvantages than advantages; thus, in terms of crimes, it should be restricted to economic ones and, in terms of criminals, it should be restricted to white arrow criminals. More than a legal and judicial action, media exposure is an act with media nature. Thus, the “bylaw of media exposure” should be formulated by media institutes and professionals. The proposed bylaw should include limitations in terms of the media which are allowed to publish thesentences, form of publishing, time of publishing, and method of exposure.