Discrimination against the poor in judicial sanctions

A poor person, when convicted, is often imprisoned because of inability to pay the alternative of a fine. Imprisonment carries with it a greater social stigma than the payment of a fine. A person imprisoned because of inability to pay a fine also suffers some of the hardship undergone by persons imprisoned during or pending a trial because of inability to furnish pecuniary guarantees. Within the area of payment of fines there is great de facto inequality, since a fine of little significance to a rich man may be ruinous to a poor one.