The Strange Case Of Ethan Couch, Arizona

468 Words2 Pages

Ethan Couch killed four people and injured nine while driving under the influence. However, the judge ruled he would receive ten years of probation, which he later violated, and an unspecified amount of time at the North Texas State Hospital. His defense argued he suffered from “affluenza,” an unrecognized mental illness characterized by wealthy young people who, because of their privilege and wealth, do not understand the consequence of their actions.

Had Ethan Couch not had a privileged upbringing he would have had a more serious charge. Wealthy people get off easier when they break the law.

Affluenza is not a recognized mental disorder and is not found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual published by the American Psychiatric Association. …show more content…

In 2004, Eric Bradlee Miller was drunk, stole a car, and crashed into a man, killing him. Jean Boyd sentenced him to twenty years. Nine years later, she sentenced Ethan Couch to two years for a more severe crime. Had Eric Bradlee Miller had a wealthy family and a superstar defense willing to create false mental disorders on his behalf, he too could have gotten off with a measly two years.

Ethan Couch did not learn his lesson during his probation. Ethan Couch missed a meeting with his probation officer and was discovered fleeing to Mexico with his mother, Tonya Couch. Before this Ethan was seen cheering on a beer pong game and drinking alcohol, yet another example of how his probation and time at North Texas State Hospital taught him nothing.

Some argue that affluenza is legitimate and because of Ethan’s privilege, he had no concept of right or wrong. Even if affluenza is real and came from his parents influence, why was Ethan sent back into their custody? Ethan Couch is more likely to be a victim of bad parenting, not a mental illness. Bad parenting is not an excuse for murder. Affluenza is not a disorder, not according to psychiatrists and not according to the