http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124357844
"Newspapers are full of apologies these days, from Toyota to Tiger Woods. But papers in the Boston area are also running a growing number of "mea culpas" that are ordered by the courts.
Increasingly, companies that plead guilty to crimes that harm the community -- polluting, for example -- are being required to publish an apology as part of their punishment."
I think this is a good way of punishing corporations- no matter the size of the business.
For the big businesses, writing a check to pay the fine doesn't go far in making them think twice about committing the crime again because most people won't even know they did anything wrong. They won't lose any customers because the crime or mistake was never made known to the general public. If they have to apologize to the public for committing that crime, they will lose respect and business from some of their current customers. It's bad business.
For the smaller businesses, not only will paying the fine or suffering the legal punishment be difficult for them, but having to publically apologize will shed light on the committed crime. This could damage their reputation, and for most small businesses, that's everything. Their customers will go elsewhere not wanting to support or endorse a company that damages the environment, taking their money and their word-of-mouth with them.
I think the public apologies would make several corporations think twice before risking their reputations and income by committing crimes that damage the environment.