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

question 4

Multiple Choice

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.

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Definitions:

Compounded Semi-annually

The process of adding interest to the principal sum of a loan or deposit twice a year, also accounting for the interest accumulated over the period.

Monthly Payment

Regular payment made every month, commonly in the context of repaying loans or paying bills.

Home Renovations

Improvements or alterations made to a residential property, often intended to increase its value, functionality, or aesthetic appeal.

Compounded Quarterly

Involves calculating interest on an investment or loan every three months, then adding that interest to the principal amount; thus, the interest for the next period is calculated on the principal plus previously accumulated interest.