this post was submitted on 19 Jun 2026
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On average, Dutch courts impose harsher sentences on suspects who are less well-off than those in a better socioeconomic position, the Research and Data Center (WODC) found in a new study on criminal law.

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[–] Teacrumble@lemmy.world 10 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

Would love to know more about what kind of crimes this is talking about, and how the less-poor can bullshit their way out of it

[–] Diplomjodler3@lemmy.world 11 points 20 hours ago (2 children)

They can afford better lawyers, most likely.

[–] Tarogar@feddit.org 3 points 14 hours ago

It's probably also stuff like clothing and looks. Poorer people may not have an expensive suit that makes them look serious about the case. More wealthy people will have one. Sure in theory it shouldn't make a difference but judges are also just humans that get influenced by those things. Add to that better (or worse) education about laws as well as a difference in behaviour from (lack) of training and you end up with different sentences.

Generally the people that can spend more money will be better prepared and that will have a positive return even if it probably shouldn't matter that much in front of a court.

[–] naught101@lemmy.world 6 points 18 hours ago

Yeah, I would assume this pattern holds across much of the world..

[–] 87Six@lemmy.zip 2 points 22 hours ago (3 children)

Why am I always hearing bad news about the dutch all of a sudden?

[–] reallykindasorta@slrpnk.net 2 points 7 hours ago

I think there are quite a few dutch people on lemmy so we’re just seeing their news more often

[–] rumschlumpel@feddit.org 8 points 16 hours ago* (last edited 16 hours ago) (1 children)

Probably because fediverse users keep linking it.

Also, let's not pretend that this is significantly different in any other western country. Paid lawyers are standard in most judicial systems, wealthy suspects will always have an advantage because of that.

[–] CosmoNova@lemmy.world 1 points 10 hours ago

Iβ€˜m pretty sure the Netherlands are still near the top in global rankings when it comes to equality. I would guess itβ€˜s much worse in most countries. But itβ€˜s a mostly capitalistic world and being poor is expensive. Everywhere.

[–] orbitz@lemmy.ca 1 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

Maybe they annoyed a media owner? Which if so makes them better in my book, but since I really dunno shrug

[–] rumschlumpel@feddit.org 1 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

Eh, kinda. Let's see if the NRC or Volkskrant run with this.