# Rich people don't go to prison **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 1, 2014, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rich-people-dont-go-to-prison/685071 "2014-04-01T13:05:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2014, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rich-people-dont-go-to-prison/685071/21 "2014-04-01T16:15:46Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > I’m always amazed that America has let itself be turned into a third world country where the rich are above the rule of law. Freedom is not free. As it turns out, justice isn’t either. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2014, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rich-people-dont-go-to-prison/685071/22 "2014-04-01T16:16:32Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > I’m always amazed that America has let itself be turned into a third world country where the rich are above the rule of law. Turned? When _haven’t_ the rich been above the rule of law in this country? ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2014, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rich-people-dont-go-to-prison/685071/23 "2014-04-01T16:27:56Z")
The story is actually much worse. They’re discussing his guilty plea in 2008 for raping his daughter because his ex-wife has initiated litigation against him for also molesting his toddler son around the same time. > **[Du Pont heir accused of raping 2nd child in lawsuit](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/03/18/dupont-heir-accused-of-raping-second-child/6568787/)** > > Member of prominent Delaware families pleaded guilty to raping daughter, 3, in 2008. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2014, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rich-people-dont-go-to-prison/685071/24 "2014-04-01T17:02:34Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Turned? When _haven’t_ the rich been above the rule of law in this country? Are we the _only_ country where immense wealth can buy your way out of trouble? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2014, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rich-people-dont-go-to-prison/685071/25 "2014-04-01T17:05:30Z")
Clearly, the burden of filling our prisons should fall to the poor, who can take it. On to the next subject: why do these whiners keep talking like the poor have it so terrible? They have coffee machines! I’ll tell you who’se got it rough: the job creators. They can’t even rape a couple of toddlers without somebody hollering for them to be treated like poor people. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2014, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rich-people-dont-go-to-prison/685071/26 "2014-04-01T17:06:49Z")
Where’s Anonymous when you need them to hack into the judge’s communications and dig out the back story of what _really_ happened? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2014, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rich-people-dont-go-to-prison/685071/27 "2014-04-01T17:31:39Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Turned? When _haven’t_ the rich been above the rule of law in this country? Why of course, having money always lets you [buy your way out of trouble](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2365170/Each-time-I-visit-looks-thinner-wispier-Phil-Spectors-daughter-reveals-toll-prison-life-father.html) [without going to jail](http://www.forbes.com/sites/walterpavlo/2014/01/29/convicted-inside-trader-james-fleishman-reflects-on-crime-that-wasnt/). ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2014, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rich-people-dont-go-to-prison/685071/28 "2014-04-01T17:46:52Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > I’m always amazed that America has let itself be turned into a third world country where the rich are above the rule of law. I’m not going to take the Bernard Madoff position and disagree that the rich aren’t above the law, but what makes you want to hang that badge of shame on just the USA? Is there some wonderful country out there where justice is pristine? And my amazement at your comment wasn’t so much about injustice as it was your bold leap of taking one example of a crappy legal situation and using it to define an entire country. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2014, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rich-people-dont-go-to-prison/685071/29 "2014-04-01T17:53:19Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Turned? When _haven’t_ the rich been above the rule of law in this country? I dunno, it seems a lot more true lately than it did ten or twenty years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2014, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rich-people-dont-go-to-prison/685071/30 "2014-04-01T17:54:09Z")
According to a [link](http://www.freep.com/article/20140330/NEWS07/303300113/Du-Pont-heir-s-sentence-for-raping-daughter-3-raises-questions) from that link; > [@](#): > > But in June 2008, just days before a scheduled trial, prosecutor Renee Hrivnak offered Richards a plea to a single count of fourth-degree rape, which carries no mandatory time, and he accepted, admitting in court that he abused his child. > > “It was more than reasonable, an enlightened plea offer,” Richards attorney Eugene J. Maurer Jr. said. > > Fourth-degree rape is a Class C violent felony that by law can bring up to 15 years in prison, though guidelines suggest zero to 2 1/2 years in prison. > > At Richards’ February 2009 sentencing, Hrivnak recommended probation, Biden’s chief deputy Ian R. McConnel said, adding that in retrospect he wished she would have sought prison time. Hrivnak would not comment. So, sentencing guidelines go down to no jail time, the prosecutor recommended no jail time and the judge seems to have agreed. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2014, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rich-people-dont-go-to-prison/685071/31 "2014-04-01T18:06:44Z")
“When they came for the wealthy child-rapists, I said nothing, because… fuck those guys.” ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2014, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rich-people-dont-go-to-prison/685071/32 "2014-04-01T19:01:19Z")
> [@BubbaDog](#): > > I’m not going to take the Bernard Madoff position and disagree that the rich aren’t above the law, but what makes you want to hang that badge of shame on just the USA? > > Is there some wonderful country out there where justice is pristine? > > And my amazement at your comment wasn’t so much about injustice as it was your bold leap of taking one example of a crappy legal situation and using it to define an entire country. Well, for starters, we can stop pretending that we have an equitable justice system that is the envy of the world. I agree with you, America is no better than most countries: if you’re rich, you can fuck babies and you won’t go to jail. There are certainly countries where the rich are not held up as paragons of virtue and where being poor isn’t seen as a moral failiings, as it is in the US. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2014, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rich-people-dont-go-to-prison/685071/33 "2014-04-01T19:05:39Z")
> [@Antinor01](#): > > According to a [link](http://www.freep.com/article/20140330/NEWS07/303300113/Du-Pont-heir-s-sentence-for-raping-daughter-3-raises-questions) from that link; > So, sentencing guidelines go down to no jail time, the prosecutor recommended no jail time and the judge seems to have agreed. So why did the prosecutor offer such a sweet deal? After all, this guy had been raping his daughter for years. Either it was a really weak case, or Hrvinak and the judge got big piles of cash. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2014, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rich-people-dont-go-to-prison/685071/34 "2014-04-01T19:15:20Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > So why did the prosecutor offer such a sweet deal? After all, this guy had been raping his daughter for years. Either it was a really weak case, or Hrvinak and the judge got big piles of cash. How would I know? The sentence falls within the guidelines and prosecutor recommendation, the states sentencing commission encourages lenient sentences, the ‘not fare well’ was a single line in the sentencing order. I haven’t seen the entire order, so have no idea what else she had to say. Do I think he should be tossed in prison? Absolutely. Does the order meet state guidelines? It sure looks like it. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2014, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rich-people-dont-go-to-prison/685071/35 "2014-04-01T19:34:46Z")
Does the sentence include registering as an [del]unemployed preverted drone[/del] sex offender? Other children won’t fare well with him out of prison. Where is our “with a hot poker” smilie? ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2014, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rich-people-dont-go-to-prison/685071/36 "2014-04-01T19:35:42Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > I dunno, it seems a lot more true lately than it did ten or twenty years ago. Could be that it just makes the news more than it used to. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2014, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rich-people-dont-go-to-prison/685071/37 "2014-04-01T19:40:08Z")
> [@Antinor01](#): > > Does the order meet state guidelines? It sure looks like it. Let’s hope this incident helps get the problem of a too-lax minimum fixed. Damn, couldn’t the judge at least have ordered psych treatment of some kind? ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2014, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rich-people-dont-go-to-prison/685071/38 "2014-04-01T20:03:35Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Well, for starters, we can stop pretending that we have an equitable justice system that is the envy of the world. I agree with you, America is no better than most countries: if you’re rich, you can fuck babies and you won’t go to jail. I wasn’t aware that we suffered from that delusion. Thanks for pointing that out. > [@](#): > > There are certainly countries where the rich are not held up as paragons of virtue and where being poor isn’t seen as a moral failiings, as it is in the US. so… Fight my ignorance. Tell me the names of these wonderful countries. Are they too only defined by chosen examples of the outcome of their justice system? ---
**Author:** ![get\_lives](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@get\_lives](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/get_lives)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2014, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rich-people-dont-go-to-prison/685071/39 "2014-04-02T03:39:33Z")
> [@BubbaDog](#): > > I wasn’t aware that we suffered from that delusion. Thanks for pointing that out. > so… > > Fight my ignorance. > > Tell me the names of these wonderful countries. > Are they too only defined by chosen examples of the outcome of their justice system? I believe the Netherlands are pretty well-known for lack of corruption, fair courts, and non-deification of the rich. In general, broadly-speaking, the citizens of most European countries are not as focused on wealth as an absolute determiner of personal worth compared to the US. They tend to be a bit more focused on art, culture, etc. than Americans. And I can’t believe the Duponts. Neil Dupont murdered someone and did no time at all. What is wrong with this family? Are the _trying_ to imitate Mason Verger from the Hannibal books? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2014, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rich-people-dont-go-to-prison/685071/40 "2014-04-02T03:44:43Z")
> [@BubbaDog](#): > > I’m always amazed when somebody can make this much of a leap in logic. No, you’re not. You’re not even surprised. And you have no right to be, either. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rich-people-dont-go-to-prison/685071.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rich-people-dont-go-to-prison/685071.md?page=3)