If an upper-middle-class, white college student is sentenced to rehab for the same drug crime that a lower-class, black man is sentenced to jail for committing, what might a conflict theorist conclude about deviance?
A) Differential levels of punishment are functional, as they keep the most productive members of society out of jail.
B) We need to punish criminals from the lower class more harshly, as they are more likely to re-offend.
C) The two criminals probably had very different motives for committing their crimes, and this explains the difference in punishment.
D) The rules are applied unequally, and those with power or influence are punished much less harshly.
E) The system makes occasional errors, but most of the time, everyone is treated equally.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A conflict theorist would argue that the criminal justice system is biased against lower-class and minority individuals, leading to unequal treatment and punishment. In this case, the fact that a white, upper-middle-class individual received a less severe punishment than a black, lower-class individual suggests that the system is not impartial and that those with power or influence are treated with greater leniency.

If an Upper-Middle-Class, White College Student Is Sentenced to Rehab