[owlglass]

> [This analysis] notes that the criminal justice system is more lenient toward white-collar offenders than nonviolent property offenders and that affluent offenders are less likely to serve prison sentences than poor offenders even when they have committed the same offense.

Even the US DOJ is aware of it.[1]

[1] https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/rich-get...

[keldaris]

How much of that effect could be explained by the ability to afford better legal representation rather than direct preferential treatment?

[AnimalMuppet]

A lot, maybe all. Still, if the rich get better legal outcomes than the poor, that's not justice, whether or not "better lawyers" is the mechanism.

[keldaris]

Certainly not arguing that it's fair or just, but it's important to distinguish the mechanisms to have any hope of potentially improving the situation.