"Who's Judging?"

Some thing really annoy me
Even though I don't know the law
And that's when some discriminates
By only punishing the poor.
You've got to think of her future
Never mind the crime
She's Oxford University don't you know
Too talented to do time.
high on drink and drugs
All she did was stab her bloke
If you want to avoid jail
Maybe stick to Diet Coke.
Never mind the youngster
Who's got a different colour skin
Dropped out of school at fifteen
Consigning their future to the bin.
If this was a black working class youngster
Would you have been spared a prison cell
I know nothing about applying the law
But know the answer well.
I'm not one of these 'do-good softies'
Who plead a twentieth 'second chance'
Whether it's a wannabe gangster or clever student
It should be jail without a glance.
Middle class and privileged
Shouldn't be a 'get out of jail' card
When being sentenced by an old duffer
Is based on how posh your yard.
All I want is fairness
When you do your sentencing task
Basing punishment on deed not upbringing
Is that really too much to ask?

Dulwich Poet 4th October 2017

(Oxford University student was recently spared jailed as it might harm her future prospects after stabbing her boyfriend while high on drink and drugs)