Debra Lafave Case Study

The mass media loves a scandal; it focuses on the most outrageous cases in order to make profit and often blows things out of proportion in order to make a better story. The media coverage of Debra Lafave’s case is a perfect example. The mass media not only hindered the court in leading a fair trial, exposing the teenager at the center of the case by publishing his photo and name in European newspapers, it also allowed the offender to receive a lighter sentence. The crime that Debra Lafave committed, having sexual intercourse with a minor, who was also one of her students, is deviant not only criminally but socially in the United States. Yet the media coverage partially helped her receive a lighter sentence because of the focus on her looks,

Discrimination, positive or negative, is an action toward people based solely on their group membership. People can discriminate against a person based on the person’s gender, race, nationality or look. Someone might not hire a Hispanic person, because of his nationality even if he is qualified, which is negative discrimination. However, when someone receives preferential treatment, for example, someone hires an Asian, believing that they are better at math than others, could be positive discrimination. In the case of Debra Lafave, she received a lighter sentence, no jail time, only probation and house arrest, because of her looks. Her lawyer believed that because she was blond and pretty, she would be in danger if sent to a women’s penitentiary. This is positive discrimination, receiving a lighter sentence due to her looks, while other women, who commit similar crimes but are not as pretty, do not receive such special

Debra Lafave received a lighter sentence due to her looks, which made people discriminate towards her in a positive way, and because of the mass media coverage that the case received, in which the minor would have been exposed if he had proceeded with the trial. Both aspects led to an unfair trial and a sentence that did not fit the criminally deviant crime that she committed. Yet in some ways, the stigma that she received because of the popularity of the trial will leave a lasting mark on her life. Perhaps this was her just punishment; she was known for her looks and now everyone recognizes her, making it hard for her to lead a normal life. On the other hand, this case raises a serious question about society itself: how far can we allow one’s looks and the media to affect our judgment? What has become of us if we allow an offender to receive a lighter sentence because of her looks and for a few more minutes of entertainment that takes us away from our own problems? Is carrying a stigma for the rest of her life enough or too