Although Americans are used to hearing about horrible accidents and crimes being committed, the result of some trials are what give us a reason to be angry. In many well-known cases, the crime does not fit the punishment. Here are a few perfect examples.

The case of George Zimmerman, who was arrested for the murder of 17 year-old Trayvon Martin, is a perfect example of just how messed up our justice system can be. For readers that don’t remember the result of this case, on July 13 of last year, Zimmerman was acquitted for both second-degree murder and manslaughter. What I can’t understand is why Zimmerman’s trial did not end with some kind of sentencing. I don’t care if Zimmerman killed Martin in self-defense or not. In most self defense cases, the person firing the gun gets some sort of punishment. The point is he killed Martin, who was unarmed, when he didn’t have to. Besides, this whole situation could have been avoided if Zimmerman had used better judgment.

The case of Josh Brent is interesting. He was a Dallas Cowboy who killed his best friend and fellow team member Jerry Brown, Jr. in a drunk driving accident. According to The Dallas Morning News, Brent was given both probation and a 10 year suspended sentence. Basically, Brent has to be a perfect citizen for 10 years. If he gets into any kind of trouble, then he would risk going to prison. Unlike Zimmerman, Brent did get a sentence, but still he should’ve gotten jail time. Any other person, who was not famous, would have been in jail. Some say it is because the victim’s mother decided to take Brent’s side. I don’t understand why she would do that but at least the judge involved in this case did not let Brent go completely free. That is why this is probably the most justified ruling out of these examples.

This next incident is the worst. Sixteen year-old Ethan Couch, who killed four people in a drunk driving accident, was given only 10 years of probation after claiming his “affluenza” kept him from knowing right from wrong. If someone from the middle or lower class were in Couch’s shoes, they would end up getting prison time, not probation. Besides, “affluenza” isn’t even a real diagnosis, it’s just something that psychologist Dick Miller used to express the fact that Couch was so spoiled by his parents, that he didn’t know right from wrong. First of all, everyone, no matter what social class you come from, should be able to realize that drinking and driving could hurt or kill others. Second of all, Couch is 16! He shouldn’t have been drinking at all. And the fact that his blood alcohol level was .24, three times the legal limit for an adult, gives all the more reason for any decent judge to give Couch prison time.

These are just a few of the many cases that prove how unjust the justice system really is. If people have to put their faith into the judicial system, we should be able to trust that everyone will get an equal sentence.