Why, according to critical criminologists, are the “crimes of the powerful” (politicians, business people, and other elites) less likely to be severely punished than those of the poor, even when those crimes have mortal consequences? Do you have examples proving your point?
Please leave at least three comments. One is your original contribution. And two comments are you replies to your classmates. Deadline: December 11th, 11:59 pm
[…] Discussion Forum 14: Crimes of the Powerful […]
Crime is on the rise due a large portion of our society strongly supports and obviously uses for their own benefit. Those are the power elites. They do not directly engage in crime, but rather indirectly contribute to the increase in crime. Promoters, politicians, and high-profile elites are examples of people who constantly use crime and, obviously, patron criminals to fulfill their own desires. For example, in modern society, politicians patronize a gang of criminals in order to gain support and curry favor during election season by threatening and instilling fear among rank and file members that opposing them will have a negative impact on them. Furthermore, those in positions of power clearly have more social dignity and respect. They are not subject to any punishment. Punishment is intended to oppress the poor. Elites, on the other hand, know the intricate ways to avoid any punishment. In general, poor criminals suffer the most. They are unable to evade prosecution. For example, if a poor man is caught red handed committing commensal theft, both the public and the justice system will punish him harshly. However, when those in power acknowledge a wide range of monetary frauds, such as scams involving thousands of crores of rupees, it does not pose much of a challenge to them. They are generally kept out of the legal system. Even though they are frequently caught red-handed, they avoid punishment by delaying the justice process. As a result, they are beyond the reach of justice.
Hey Ninoska, I agree the persecution of the higher powers is much more complex compared to those in the lower class. The Elites, politicians, and business people have legal teams for their companies so they are much aware of certain loopholes in the system. It takes the court much longer for a trial with people of a higher power as they have all the resources to avoid certain prosecutions. Compared to those in lower social class, without the proper resources, it’s easier for them to lose cases and serve harsher sentences.
[…] Discussion Forum 14: Crimes of the Powerful […]
The crimes of the powerful are more likely to be severely punished than those of the poor is because “money talks”. The most powerful people that commit white collar crime, such as the Sacklers and their major role in the opioids epidemic that took the lives of so many people. The Sackler are so, so wealthy that their descendants wouldn’t have to work a day in their lives and are part of the 1%, because of this the can pay for lawyers, legal fees, and make pay offs if needed to avoid time in prison to pay for their crimes. If they do go to prison their time is like a slap on the wrist. For example, the college scandal that occurred with the actress that potrayed aunt Becky on Full House, Lori Loughlin, who basically photoshopped her daughter’s face on another girl’s face so that she could get into a prestigious college through the sports program. I believe that Lori Loughlin faced about 2 weeks of prison time and extensive community serve time. In a similar case, a woman from a low income neighborhood, changed her address so that her son could go to a better highschool, and she was sentenced to 3-5 years of prison.
Hi Kalia, I remember that college scandal. Like you stated money and power talks. Unfortunately, is all about who you are these days. Look at former President Trump organization found guilty of tax fraud. Do I think Trump will face any prison time? No, but regular people like me and you the IRS will garnish your paycheck or send you to prison.
Hello there, Kalia. I agree with you that the powerful are never punished for their actions, but they also have a lot of power and can manipulate justice.
I agree, which is why I believe that the criminal justice system operates unfairly and unequally, and an example of this is the unequal punishment system that is used. It suggests that to achieve true justice, the system must be changed so that those in power are held to the same standards as everyone else.
Hello Kalia , How are you ? I agree with you I believe that the situation can be better but when you have a low income and tuition are high people break the rule and are likely to have a punishment. Unfortunately that’s not the case with people with power because they have more connections.
Hey Kalia, I like how you used Lori Loughlin as an example, while she is not a politician, “elite”, or business person. Celebrities also are able to get away with crimes and the punishment can seem more like a slap on the wrist for them. While she might not have certain connections, she does have the money to provide for the right resources to defend herself on trial. It’s very unfair how cheating your child into a prestigious school gets you less time served when you have enough money, compared to a woman from low income neighborhood who changed her address in order to let her son go to a better school that serves a way bigger sentence.
According to proponents of critical criminology theories, mainstream interventions to minimize crime focus much on the poorest and weakest society members. In this aspect, influential members of any society (politicians, business people, and other elites) are more likely to evade incarceration because they have a way of ‘cheating’ the system. Their power ensures they have access to resources that can help bend the rules in their favor to escape justice. For instance, an interview conducted by GBH News’s Jim Braude with a law professor, Jennifer Taub, illustrated how white-collar crime manifests in American society. Professor Taub argued that an individual’s social positioning is, in part, one of the aspects that allow a few elites to evade punishment regardless of the gravity of their crimes.
At the same time, Taub mentioned that these influential people often ‘protect’ each other—a concept she referred to as mutually assured immunity. The idea implies that influential people often receive kickbacks from people in different positions of power, especially if they have information about them that could act as leverage. In simple terms, this is a scratch-my-back-I-scratch-yours scenario in which influential people aspire to learn the ills of people in the criminal justice system or those that can influence it. Information obtained from these endeavors is then securely stored, waiting to be used when the day of reckoning comes. At this point, the individual acting as a ‘savior’ has little time and few options other than agreeing to the extortionist’s demands.
I agree; according to an article I was reading for one of my political class it stated how presidents or people in the executive branch have the power to defraud the judicial process because they established it and have word to these rules.
I agree, based on prior knowledge, the article, & a few situations in real life scenarios people with higher powers and or connections do tend to get away with a lot of stuff that they would not get away with if they were somebody else or within a different alignment with the law, if they were just a regular person who worked a simple 9-5 things would be different
Your statement is filled with the absolute truth the elite get away with things due to this sense of solidarity.
I agree with your first sentence ” mainstream interventions to minimize crime focus much on the poorest and weakest society members” social media will only show you what someone who isn’t a millionaire did wrong and will try to shame you publicly, as for someone like Kanye who’s famous and is a billionaire, he says crazy things but nobody is trying to shame him.
According to critical criminologists, “crimes of the powerful” are less likely to be severely punished than those of the poor because Any criminal offence committed by a person of relatively high status or who holds relatively high levels of trust where the offence is made possible by their occupation, which can include: forgery, federal income violations, and worksite fraud. Where I believe that high-status people have links all across. Which simplifies the process for those to get out of this case in which poor people do not have sufficient extra income or connections to find a suitable advocate.
Hello Lesly, I agree that a person who holds a high level of trust do have access to other high power needs that a poor person cannot obtain or use, therefore the poor person is forced to deal with their situation with no higher power access or help
Yes that’s true. It’s very hard for poor people to find the support they need due to lack of finance
Hello Lesly, the law only applies to certain people.
Hello Lesly , I agree with you that people with power are less likely to face any punishment rather than someone who is poor are given less opportunities and they have to figure out a solution.
People of “power” tend to get off easily. Its the sad truth that everyone has a price and there are more consequences of these people going to jail then there are as if they were free.
Criminologists who take a critical approach contend that because the powerful and the poor have unequal power dynamics, the “crimes of the powerful” are less likely to result in heavy punishments than other crimes. This is a result of the fact that strong people can utilize their influence and resources to either escape punishment altogether or ensure that any punishment they receive is significantly milder than it would be for those less powerful. Critical criminologists consider a lack of severe punishment for the “crimes of the powerful” to be a form of structural violence since it maintains the established power dynamics and enables those in positions of power to continue to avoid accountability. In addition, the impoverished are frequently unable to access the same resources and influence as the powerful, so they are more likely to be punished for their crimes. As a result, this further entrenches the systemic oppression of the poor. One illustration of this is the BP oil spill that occurred in 2010. Even though the oil leak resulted in considerable damage to the environment, the business was only fined $4.5 billion, a tiny portion of its overall revenues for the year. This starkly contrasts with the punishments handed out to smaller enterprises and individuals, who face considerably harsher penalties for much less severe environmental damage.
A reason I believe that it is less likely to be severely punished with politicians & business people compared to the poor is for business people and politicians already have a clean background for the job they are in and they have connections with higher powers, as compared to poor people who might have a less perfected background and fewer connections it will be harder to get a less conviction then the higher authorities and would face less penalty compared to somebody with nobody on their side to help
Do you have examples proving your point?
For examples, if a homeless man and a off duty cop were to have a disagreement & it got physical it would be better for the cop because he has connections and knows the law as for the homeless person, would not have any experience and did not have connections he would more then likely do more time compared to the cop.
Hello Ariel, I agree that business and politicians people already have the clean slate and also have the connections with people who hold that higher power than others.
It’s very unfair because they both committed the same severity of crime and should both experience the consequences regardless of connections they may have to cheat away from facing it.
I agree, if you have a role in society you basically win almost 90% of the time.
Great response here Ariel, I enjoyed reading your response, and I can agree that most crimes go unpunished for the wealthy due to money and power.
I think that the powerful are less likely to be severely punished then the poor because the powerful are rich and have access to afford the best for their needs, the best lawyers, best agents, best security maybe, the poor has limited options and would lead to them being powerless when it comes to dealing with their crimes.
I agree people with money get off more easily.
Critical criminological work is that to some degree the variants of critical criminology locate one of the prime causes” of the origins of criminal behavior in the economic structure of society and the inequality of the class system that this structure generates. Critical criminology theorists is a self – reflection that see themselves in opposition to mainstream criminology. The crimes of the powerful are more likely to be severely punished than those of the poor even when those crimes have mortal consequences. One example I can share that the power gets less punished than the poor is when a cop arrests a homeless person they know less about their rights and can’t afford a lawyer. they have to take what is given to them. For someone with more power will understand their rights and will be able to afford a better lawyer than what they provide.
Over the years we have seen many rich an powerful get off easy due to the access and power they obtain. We have seen many such as O.J Simpson on trial for the murder of his wife. His attorney openly admitting he was guilty though the evidence proved it as well he still was able to get off easy. All evidence presented during the time and trial of the case reflected a light showing he was guilty yet “money talk bullshit walks.” Everyone has a price it just has to be high enough. Not to mention when having such power in a dynamic where it seems to be normal to “cover things up,” it can seem like a normal thing amongst the rich. Many people who aren’t necessarily stable or wealthy will do the exact same crime and get more sentenced and a harsher charge compared to one who is wealthy. Not to mention politicians, businessmen & other elites are well rounded on the background of these crimes. When knowing what can happen while doing a crime or illegal activities it can help these criminals meneur.
The OJ trial was by far the craziest example here, that trial was a mess.
A reason that these political figures and people with power and money don’t get severely punished for crimes they commit is because they have either a good figure behind them, money for lawyers and power. If you have a good team behind you it’s almost impossible to get charged for crimes.
Perfect example of this John McAfee also know as the creator and owner of the McAfee anti-virus that comes pre-installed on all windows devices. According to toptenz.net “While living in Carmalita, Belize, he stabbed a man named David Middleton, because he stole something out of his house. He then dumped Middleton’s body into the middle of a busy street. Even though there were dozens of witnesses, the police turned a blind eye. After authorities searched his property under suspicion of drug and gang activity, McAfee ran to the city of San Juan, where he murdered his neighbor, an American named Greg Faull. Immediately after killing Faull, McAfee went on the run. He hired a lawyer, and had his posse help him escape across the border to Guatemala. He was later extradited to the United States, but he’s never served a single day of jail time for killing two people.”
I agree this example is a prime example. Just like Dr Fauci when circulations were going out saying he created the virus and had something to do w millions of people dying. Again these are all assumptions and circumstances but to all extend they did any and everything to protect their name. Money talks
Great response. I enjoyed reading it as it gave me new things to look into, like the Mcafee killings.
“Crimes of the powerful” are less likely to be severely punished than those of the poor because of their high status, money and connections to other powerful figures. I believe as long as you have connections to the right people and have money, people will turn a blind eye to your wrong doings. For example, Thomas Giradi, a powerful and political attorney who has been honored in the “Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame” and first attorney in California to win a million dollar malpractice case, has been stealing from his clients for years. He has had 205 complaints against him that has been overlooked because of his high status. Giradi has “misappropriated” from one instance alone, at least 2 million dollars. Thomas Giradi has only been disbarred so far.
The “crimes of the powerful” are less likely to be punished than those of the poor because of money, status, and connections. One popular example would be Jeffrey Epstein and his crimes. He was involved with finance and banking having ties with Bear Stearns and Wall Street, and later on, creating his own firm which managed assets of clients worth more than $1 B. In 2005 he was convicted of sexually exploiting dozens of minor girls starting in 2002, in the trial he was charged with sex trafficking and conspiracy charges. He was able to avoid federal prosecution charges which could’ve landed him in jail for close to a life sentence, but instead received an 18-month prison sentence. He was later released on probation after serving only 13 months from his charges. Jeffrey Epstein was able to take advantage of many minor girls for years, paying them, and the amount of power and connections he had played a role in how many he was able to take advantage of for a long period of time. He is able to pay for top legal teams to help him reduce the number of years he should have served. Comparing this to another crime committed by the lower social class would be the Central park 5. Where 4 juveniles were wrongfully convicted of the aggravated assault and rape of a white woman in Central park. Being young and not having knowledge of the justice system and not having the money to properly pay a legal team, they were convicted of 6-7 years each in prison. The difference is staggering between Jeffrey who sexually abused multiple young girls with victims coming out as proof, compared to young boys being in the wrong place at the wrong time and being wrongfully convicted of the murder of one woman.
Crimes of the wealthy are less likely to be severely punished because states have been more focused on the crimes of the poor than the rich. Most crimes committed by politicians and other people within the wealthy category have always been known to help the state. Many of these crimes do not surface until something happens. Let’s take former president Donald Trump, for instance. He has been accused of many federal crimes but has not been charged with any. Most of the people within his administration have all been arrested and charged with some type of crime. Because of his wealth and power, the courts would instead pursue the people beneath him rather than waste their time fighting with someone with access to many resources.
The crimes of the powerful are less likely to be severely punished, since the individuals being tried have highly skilled lawyers and friends in higher places. Donald Trump is one example that comes to mind, he has had multiple charges against him mostly concerning white collar crimes and he has not had any drastic consequences if he has any.
I agree with you Vanessa, Donald Trump is one of the many politicians we have witnessed get away with so many crimes.
I agree with you many high power people have friends or relatives who work in the legal system so it is easier for them to get off with no or barley any punishment
Those in higher power such as politicians, business people and elites are more likely to evade prosecutions for committing crimes. This is because these people have legal teams for their companies or administrations and they are much more aware of the way the justice system works. This gives them the ability to delay trial and receive less harsh punishments. However the lower social class and minorities is more likely to face punishment and serve harsher sentences because they don’t have the same power as the higher class.
I totally agree with you it sad to see the lower class face such harsh punishment while the rich gets off with a slap on their wrist because they know the system.