The Rich Get Richer and the Poor Get Prison

1. The criminal justice system fails to protect society from the gravest threats

A criminal justice system is a mirror in which a whole society can see the darker outlines of its face.

Distorted reflection. The criminal justice system presents a distorted image of crime and threats to society, like a carnival mirror. It magnifies the threat of street crime committed by the poor while minimizing or ignoring more serious harms caused by the wealthy and powerful. This skewed focus fails to protect society from some of its gravest threats.

Failure on multiple fronts. The system fails in three key ways:

1. It does not substantially reduce crime rates
2. It does not treat harmful acts by the wealthy as crimes
3. It is biased against the poor at every stage from arrest through sentencing

This triple failure means society remains largely unprotected from many serious harms, while being confronted with a large visible population of poor criminals. The system persists in this failing state because it produces ideological benefits for those in power, even as it harms the poor who lack the power to change it.

2. Harmful acts of the wealthy are often not treated as crimes

Crime by any other name still causes misery and suffering.

White-collar crime. Many harmful acts committed by wealthy individuals and corporations are not defined or treated as crimes, despite causing as much or more damage than street crimes. Examples include:

• Unsafe working conditions leading to injuries and deaths
• Environmental pollution harming public health
• Financial fraud wiping out people's savings
• Selling dangerous products to consumers

Lenient treatment. Even when white-collar crimes are prosecuted, the punishments are often much more lenient than those for street crimes. Corporations may pay fines that amount to a small fraction of their profits from illegal activities. Executives rarely face prison time for decisions that harm or kill many people.

Unequal justice. This disparity creates a two-tiered system of justice. The poor face harsh punishments for relatively minor offenses, while the wealthy can commit major harms with little consequence. This undermines the legitimacy of the entire criminal justice system and its claim to protect society.

3. The poor are disproportionately targeted by the criminal justice system

To the extent that the American criminal justice system apprehends and punishes individuals not because they are dangerous but because they are dangerous and poor, then, to that same extent, the American criminal justice system fails to give all Americans either protection or justice.

Bias at every stage. Research shows the criminal justice system is biased against the poor at every stage of the process:

• More likely to be stopped and searched by police
• More likely to be arrested for the same offenses
• Less likely to afford bail or quality legal representation
• More likely to be convicted and receive harsher sentences

Cumulative disadvantage. These biases compound at each stage, resulting in prisons filled disproportionately with poor people. This does not mean all prisoners are innocent, but that many wealthier people who commit similar or worse crimes are not held accountable.

Cycle of poverty and crime. Criminal records make it even harder for poor people to find employment and housing, trapping them in a cycle of poverty and recidivism. Meanwhile, the focus on street crime diverts attention and resources from addressing root causes of crime like poverty and lack of opportunity.

4. The failure of criminal justice serves ideological purposes

Ideology involves ideas that distort reality in ways that hide society's injustices and thus secure uncritical allegiance to the existing social order.

Maintaining power structures. The failing criminal justice system serves ideological functions that benefit those in power:

1. It conveys the message that the greatest threat to society comes from the poor, not the wealthy
2. It suggests poverty results from moral failings of individuals, not social and economic injustice
3. It legitimizes existing inequalities and deflects criticism from the status quo

Shaping perceptions. By focusing on street crime and individual responsibility, the system shapes how people understand crime and justice. This diverts attention from systemic issues and harmful actions of the powerful. The media often amplifies this distorted picture.

Historical inertia. This ideological function helps explain why the system persists despite its failures. Those with the power to change it benefit from the current arrangement, while those most harmed by it lack the power to reform it. This creates a self-reinforcing cycle that maintains the status quo.

5. Poverty and inequality are major sources of crime

If we grant that human groups often derive benefit from deviant behavior, can we then assume that they are organized in such a way as to promote this resource?

Criminogenic conditions. Poverty and inequality create conditions that make crime more likely:

• Lack of economic opportunity
• Inadequate education and resources
• Concentrated disadvantage in certain communities
• Weakened social bonds and community institutions

Strain theory. The disconnect between cultural goals of success and limited legitimate means to achieve them creates strain that can lead to crime. This helps explain why crime rates are higher in more unequal societies.

Addressing root causes. Truly reducing crime requires addressing these underlying social and economic factors. Policies that reduce poverty and inequality, improve education, and create economic opportunities are likely to be more effective than simply increasing punishment. However, such policies are often neglected in favor of "tough on crime" approaches that fail to address root causes.

6. The war on drugs has been counterproductive and harmful

Can we honestly act as if we do not know that our prison system (including our failure to ensure a meaningful post-release noncriminal alternative for the ex-con) is a source of crime?

Failed policy. The war on drugs has failed to significantly reduce drug use or availability, while causing immense harm:

• Mass incarceration, especially of minorities
• Violent black markets and organized crime
• Contaminated drugs and increased overdoses
• Militarization of police
• Erosion of civil liberties

Counterproductive effects. Criminalizing addiction has made the problem worse by:

• Stigmatizing and marginalizing users
• Creating barriers to treatment and harm reduction
• Destroying families and communities
• Perpetuating cycles of poverty and crime

Alternative approaches. Many experts advocate treating drug abuse as a public health issue rather than a criminal one. Countries that have decriminalized drugs and focused on harm reduction have seen better outcomes in terms of addiction rates, overdoses, and associated crime.

7. Transforming the criminal justice system requires addressing root causes

Every step toward reducing poverty and its debilitating effects, toward criminalization of the dangerous acts of the affluent and vigorous prosecution of white-collar crime, toward decriminalization of recreational drug use and other "victimless crimes," and toward domestic disarmament... are steps that move us from a system of criminal justice to a system of criminal justice.

Comprehensive reform. Truly reforming the criminal justice system requires a multi-faceted approach that addresses underlying social issues:

• Reducing poverty and inequality
• Improving education and economic opportunities
• Treating drug addiction as a health issue
• Implementing stronger corporate accountability
• Reforming sentencing and incarceration practices
• Addressing racial and economic bias in the system

Shifting priorities. This requires a fundamental shift in priorities, moving resources from punishment to prevention and rehabilitation. It means redefining what we consider "crime" to include more harmful acts by the powerful.

Long-term vision. These changes will not happen overnight and will likely face significant resistance from those who benefit from the current system. However, they are necessary to create a truly just and effective criminal justice system that protects all members of society, not just the privileged few.

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Last updated: March 11, 2025