With the Ross County Jail filling up, a judge said she could give certain offenders another route: Instead of jail time, they would walk around town with a sandwich board that read: "I am a thief."

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — The Ross County Jail was filling up and Judge Toni Eddy in Chillicothe needed to come up with an alternative plan to punish people who committed a crime.

She could send them to jail or she could give them another route: Instead of jail time, they would walk around town with a sandwich board that read: "I am a thief."

Since the program started this year, between 40 and 45 people have chosen to wear the sign.

People like Rebecca Moore.

"This is really embarrassing. I can't do 10 days in jail I don't like it, but I don't like doing this, either," she said.

Moore was arrested for stealing from the Chillicothe Walmart. She said it was household items. This mother of five children says she couldn't do jail time and care for kids so she chose to do the walk of shame instead.

"Not to do it again, it's embarrassing." she said when asked what she had learned.

Judge Eddy says she's happy with this alternative sentencing program because it saves taxpayer dollars to pay for someone sitting in jail and makes room for more serious offenders.

Those who wear the signs are normally first-time offenders or those who may have prior run-ins with the law.

"I was trying to find an alternative instead of sending them to jail — to give them the option to carry a sign or go to jail. It's more of a thing where (you) open your eyes and think about your actions and there can be consequences," she says.

Judge Eddy admits not everyone in the public is a fan of the idea. She says she'll reevaluate the program at the end of the year.

Some have questioned why people should wear a sign instead of doing community service.

The judge tells 10TV the problem she ran into was that few people in the community wanted to hire those who have theft on their record and the city doesn't have the money to pay for someone to supervise that person while at work,