Is Felicity Huffman's jail sentence in the college admissions scandal fair?



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"The 360" gives you various perspectives on the day's top debates.

What's happening:

On Friday, actress Felicity Huffman was sentenced to pay $ 15,000 for her daughter's SAT scores. She is the first parent to be sentenced in the massive college admissions scandal that has led to charges for dozens for members of wealthy and connected families.

Huffman pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and fraud as part of a deal with prosecutors in May. "I was frightened, I was stupid, and I was so wrong," she said, "She is also required to pay a $ 30,000 fine and do 250 hours of community service.

The amount she paid is far less than some of the same. Some parents are accused of paying as much as $ 500,000 and bribing coaches to say they are recruiting their children. A total of 51 people have been charged.

Why there's debate:

News of Huffman's sentencing sparkling strong reaction of many women who felt guilty because of her wealth and fame. Her case has been compared to those of poor quality who have received more substantial punishments for similar crimes. Huffman's sentence, some say, reveals the same inequities and racial disparities in higher education also exists within the justice system.

Others argue that it is a punishment, or even too harsh, given the lack of a clear victim of her crime, the low likelihood of her reoffend and her willing cooperation in the investigation. Huffman harsher sentences Huffman harsher sentences Huffman harsher sentences Huffman harsher sentences Huffman harsher sentences Huffman harsher sentences "Prisons and jails are not the answer to every bad thing everyone does," singer John Legend said.

What's next:

The fact that Huffman received a lot of money for a starter. Lori Loughlin star, who is fighting charges that she and her husband paid $ 500,000 to have their daughters accepted to the University of Southern California as athletes . If found guilty, Loughlin "should expect a jail sentence that is several times greater than Huffman's," a criminal defense attorney said. Her next scheduled short date is Oct. 2.

prospect

Huffman got a sentence by accepting responsibility for her crime.

"… Huffman's conduct following the exposure of these crimes has exemplified grace, contrition, remorse and acceptance of responsibility. Instead of making endless excuses, trying to justify her behavior, and directing blame at others, she has owned her actions. That matters. "
– Joey Jackson, CNN

Her sentence shows the wealthy and famous avoid proper punishment.

"There is no justice. Not when the rich and the powerful, the amoral and the sleazy-liars, cheats and unspeakably entitled thieves of anything and everything they can snatch with their paws from honorable folk – get away with it, time and again. "- Andrea Peyser, New York Post

The lenience shown in Huffman should be applied to less notable people in similar positions.

"So yes, let's talk about all the more vulnerable, and let's talk about Huffman's – that is, after all, the more pressing story. But let's also draw the right conclusion: Jill Filipovic, Vanity Fair

The prominence of her case can not be avoided jail time.

"The reality is that Huffman was able to stay in prison because of his fame, not in spite of it. This will have a negative impact on the first case, when it is not necessary for it. "- David Oscar Markus, The Hill

A jail sentence for Huffman will not do anything to fix the problem of mass incarceration.

"Punishment is not zero sum. No one is served by Felicity Huffman serving two weeks in prison. No one would be serving if she spent 20 years in prison. There are different ways to think about how people can make amends for wrongdoing. There are different ways to conceive of justice. "- Criminal justice expert Clint Smith

Huffman was a small player in a massive corruption scheme.

"Felicity Huffman is guilty, and now she faces two weeks in prison. But the colleges that she was exploiting are guilty, too. They've been for years – and they've never been charged. "
– Christina Tucker, NBC News

Huffman's willingness to be the face of the scandal was rewarded.

"Huffman took the first plea deal offered, pleading guilty and issuing a public statement of comprehensive contrition. "- Tiana Lowe, Washington." The feds wanted to make an example of theirs, and they would, sending them a million dollars, that they, too, would be humiliated and disciplined. look

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Cover thumbnail photo illustration: Yahoo News; photo: AP

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