Buy your way out of jail time

In Dongguan (東莞), a Guangdong (廣東) city, offenders can pay to reduce their sentences. It was reported in the Yangcheng Evening News (羊城晚報), and subsequently in the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong. In more than 30 cases, the dependants paid money to the victims of their crimes with the Victims’ approval.

In one case, a murderer had his death sentence commuted to life in jail after he paid 50,000 yuan to his victim’s family, while his two cohorts in the killings were given the death penalty.

On the one hand, everyone should be equal in front of the law. However, when the defendant pays for the victims’s loss and receives the victim’s forgiveness, shouldn’t that count for something?

What is not clear whether a defendant who could not pay but nevertheless receives the victim’s forgiveness is entitled to the same treatment. As it is, it does appear that the wealthy is given another way to escape their legal obligations.