For instance:

Rapists, and Child-Molestors,

Instead of putting them to death, or locking them up, where they're out of sight, out of mind, and not being used as an example to deter the next would-be rapist, or child-molestor, why not make an example of them? Why not make their punisment public, and keep them in public, for all to see?
Here's my plan:

After the trial, and sentencing. Maybe after the appeal, even. They're taken out to the courthouse lawn, stripped, and attached to a sturdy upright post, planted in the grass for this purpose, for 24 hours. In my version, the convicted criminal would be shackled hand and foot to rings attached to an 8X8 post standing 8 feet tall, and sunk 4 feet into the ground. He should have room to move around, stand and sit, but not to lash out at anyone. There would be a barrel there, full of sturdy 1 inch by 4 foot staves, maybe a little bigger.
After the criminal is attached, he would be fair game for all of the women and children in the community to come and have at him with the staves. The only restriction being that they could not inflict any life-threatening injury. A Deputy and an EMT would have to be present at all times to ensure this.
When the 24 hour period is over, then the criminal would be removed to the local hospital, where he could recover, and be given a lobotomy. After recovery from the whipping and the lobotomy, then he could be fitted out in an orange jumpsuit, and set to work in a gang with the others of his kind along roadsides, picking up trash, filling potholes, gardening, or any of a number of other useful jobs, for the rest of his life.

It may sound harsh, and unrealistic, but it would make a would-be rapist stop and think about the price he may have to pay, every time he saw a group of drooling morons in orange cleaning up a roadside, or filling potholes, sweeping streets, clearing brush, or whatever, and they would be giving something back to the community for housing and feeding them. they would be no harm to others anymore, and no flight risk, the relevent parts of their brains having been destroyed.

So, what do you think? Any other creative ideas out there to deter crime, or to make the punishment fit the crime?