system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: How are judges allowed to hand down unusual sentences like the woman who had to sit in a garbage dump for eight hours?

Wouldn't unusual sentences like these be seen as demeaning or even harmful to the person charged? Are there not other punishments that are considered the "norm' for such offenses such as fines or community service?

Edit 1: I'm usually supportive of such punishments,I was just curious on how a judge could legally force someone to uphold the alternative punishment.
gpt
In most cases the judge does not actually have authority to impose such a sentence, but offers it as an alternative to the maximum jail sentence for the offense. It's up to the defendant to take that offer.