History of Stocks in Timeline

Stocks are restraining devices, primarily for the feet, historically used as a form of punishment and public shaming. Evidence suggests their use dates back to Ancient Greece, mentioned in Solon's law code. Lysias, an orator, cited the law describing its use, indicating confinement in the stocks for five days as a potential addition to a sentence, similar to what was called confinement in the wood.

1989: Dermott, Arkansas passes curfew law with stocks punishment

In 1989, the Arkansas town of Dermott passed a curfew law that included punishment of up to thirty days in jail for the offender and up to two days in the stocks for the offender's parents. However, the punishment was quickly remitted because the city did not have stocks and had not budgeted for them.

2012: Woman Punished in Stocks for Adultery in Colombia

In 2012, in Colombia, Alfreda Blanco Basilio and her lover Luis Martinez were placed in stocks by the Sampues tribe due to Basilio's adultery. Basilio spent 72 hours barefoot in the stocks as punishment.

2016: Thame considers stocks for charity

In 2016, the British town of Thame considered a proposal to build stocks for use in charitable events, where people would be placed in the stocks and others would donate money for the time they remained there. The stocks were not intended for actual punishment. Further study on the topic was ongoing.

2020: Colombian Police Use Stocks for Quarantine Violators

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, police in Chinu, Colombia, placed residents who violated quarantine orders in stocks for a few hours as a form of punishment.