Dustin Provencio

Darren Chiang-Schultheiss

English 1

3 May, 1997

We all see it over and over again, how the upper class status provides immunity to violent and non-violent crimials. In most cases, convicts who are from the upper-class, are more likely to be paroled at the earliest possible date, whereas the less fortunate lower-class convicted person may have to see out their full sentence. Willaim Domhoff a sociologist, provides a number of criteria that distinguished the uppermost social status from all others. A person is considered a member of the upper class if his/her father was a millionaire entrepreneur, 300,000 a year corporation executive, or attended any of the 130 private schools listed in the back of Kavaler's THER PRIVATE WORK OF HOGH SOCIETY, or it they belonged to any of the exclusive clubs mentioned in Baltzell's PHILADELPHIA GENTEMAN, "The Making Of A National Upper Class."

For all the above listed reasons, a judge is more likely to suspend sentence, and impose community sanctions such as probation rather than imprisonment, or impose a very light 0punishmnet when the accused is found guilty. It is clearly seen in our society how money and power change with one another, as money alters the lifestyles of a persons future and the way they are treated by the courts. The upper class rapidly see these effects when they are born into a wealthy family. There is a considerable belief that public humiliation is a great penalty to suffer for an upper class person, making further punishments less desirable than for a lower class person. When they do commit crimes it is seen in a more acceptable manner and even in some of the most horrendous crimes (William Domhoff 130-131). Due to their wealth and status, the upper-class frequently are able to secure highly respected citizens of their community as witnesses, which enhances reputation and character in their effort to acquit themselves. They can point to a record of highly visible community service programs and occupational successes that assists them in destroying their criminal image as a criminal that they fell the jury will listen to.

A leading sociologist, William Domhoff states, they may have a powerful connection, friendship, kinship, or business affiliations with the judge, prosecutor, or others who are in an influential position. This so called hush hush syndrome of the upper-class, is able to destroy the balance in our justice system which leads to monetary bribes and political business appointments to law enforcement officials or jurors.

When the upper-class do provide testimony to the court, their occupation and their social status assists them to speak convincingly in maintaining their innocence or rationalizing for their humanistic errors. Due to their intellect and education, they are both socially and intellectually superior to the police officials, judge or jury, and most of the courts' personnel. They represent a class that has been conditioned to be treated with deference and respect, whose story their class culture has predisposed them to accept, In addition they have considerable knowledge pertaining to the courts processing system which assist them in conducting their defense. By way of their high level of sophistication and education, they are able to display their intelligence, money, and status to protect them when brought to trail.

Along with their vast monetary resources, they usually can afford a very high priced attorney, who can make a skillful defense for them in counteracting the prosecution's case. An upper-class person not only has a tremendous social advantage when it comes to monetary superiority, but they also receive legal assistance from within the prosecutors office as well, (Domhoff 200). Many of these persons provide political contributions to the prosecutor's office, which assists them greatly in their time of need, especially when it comes time to mount a legal defense.

In conclusion there is always going to be vast differences in the monetary status of people form around the World, but given that, they they should not have a greater advantage in our court system process when they do commit a crime. They should be help accountable for their crime, and just because they are wealthy they should not be able to avoid a verdict if found liable. In order for the judicial system to operate efficiently and be blind to these inequities, their punishments must be equal, for everyone, and not just strictly for the lower class individual.