We’ve all heard the expression, “Let the punishment fit the crime”?  Well, for one Colorado judge it couldn’t be more apt!

“After seeing so many people return for repeat noise offending,” Reuters news service reported, “Paul Sacco, a judge at Fort Lipton Municipal Court, will punish them by playing music they can’t stand for a full hour.”

Who did judge Sacco pick?  Barry Manilow and Barney the Dinosaur.

“The usual practice of fining these offenders was not proving to be a deterrent,” Reuters reported.  “So, he decided to give them a dose of their own medicine and make them listen to his musical selection at high volume for one hour.”

“When you have a person playing rap at extreme volumes all over the city,” Sacco said, “and they have to sit down and listen for an hour to Barry Manilow, it’s horrible punishment,” he said.  “Most kids don’t want to hear somebody like Glenn Close trying to sing opera.”

“You can’t fall asleep,” said teenager Rueben Fuentes.

The judge said his methods have reduced the number of repeat offenders.

However, “…offenders who are found to enjoy facing the music will have the songs taken away from them,” the report said.  “Sacco says these people must listen to music they don’tlike, because that’s what they impose on others.”

“Court officials take surveys after each session,” Reuters reported, “and if it turns out that many of the offenders happen to like a particular song, that tune is removed from the playlist.”

And what’s Sacco’s take on Barry Manilow?

“I actually don’t think Manilow’s too bad!”