A White business executive is convicted of embezzlement but is given probation over imprisonment. A minority youth is convicted of petty theft and is sentenced to three months in jail. How would the conflict perspective explain this?
A) The businessman is able to pay the money back, so no crime was committed.
B) The in-person theft is statistically more important.
C) The businessman has committed a minor wrongdoing.
D) The legal system tends to treat deviance by the poor and minorities as serious crimes.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The conflict perspective suggests that societal institutions, including the legal system, are structured in ways that perpetuate inequalities. It would argue that the legal system is biased in favor of those with power, wealth, and status (like the businessman), and against the poor and minorities, treating their deviances as more serious crimes.

A White Business Executive Is Convicted of Embezzlement but Is