2008 Woodie Awards
Does 'commit the crime, do the time' apply to celebrities
Point-Counterpoint
Brandon Howard
Issue date: 9/27/07 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
Celebrities recieve harsher punishment than the general public.
The sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution states, "In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed..." This amendment pertains to "all" American citizens.
I feel that people who are rich and famous do not receive the same judgment as working class Americans. I believe their punishments are harsher than the average felon.
For example, former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick. He has been convicted of dog fighting and due to these charges he has lost his job and probably won't be allowed in any professional football organizations for the rest of his life. Imagine for a moment you are Vick, and your name is being drug through the mud by every animal rights activist and every publication in America. Now imagine you're a working class citizen and you're being convicted of dog fighting. You do your time and you pay your fines but eventually the crime is put past you.
You might be saying to yourself that the rich and famous get off easy because they have money. You're right, they do have money and they use that money to hire expert attorneys to win these court battles.
Celebrities aren't going to just go out and hire any guy off the street. They want the best and they can afford the best, therefore they get the best.
Overall the rich and famous receive worse treatment because unlike the average American, everywhere they go their cases follow right behind them.
And unfortunately for them, the media never forgets or forgives when a celebrity does something wrong.
The sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution states, "In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed..." This amendment pertains to "all" American citizens.
I feel that people who are rich and famous do not receive the same judgment as working class Americans. I believe their punishments are harsher than the average felon.
For example, former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick. He has been convicted of dog fighting and due to these charges he has lost his job and probably won't be allowed in any professional football organizations for the rest of his life. Imagine for a moment you are Vick, and your name is being drug through the mud by every animal rights activist and every publication in America. Now imagine you're a working class citizen and you're being convicted of dog fighting. You do your time and you pay your fines but eventually the crime is put past you.
You might be saying to yourself that the rich and famous get off easy because they have money. You're right, they do have money and they use that money to hire expert attorneys to win these court battles.
Celebrities aren't going to just go out and hire any guy off the street. They want the best and they can afford the best, therefore they get the best.
Overall the rich and famous receive worse treatment because unlike the average American, everywhere they go their cases follow right behind them.
And unfortunately for them, the media never forgets or forgives when a celebrity does something wrong.
Be the first to comment on this story