IMPACT OF SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS AND ETHNICITY ON LEGAL OUTCOMES IN DUI CASES: A QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF HUANCAVELICA, PERU

Estrada-Ayre C.P.; Porras-Sarmiento S.; Poma-Lagos L.A.; Calderón-Villegas L.A.; Mendoza-Castellanos J.E.; Quispe-Menendes E.M.; Vivanco-Nuñez P.M.; Vivanco-Vasquez H.A. · Scientific Culture (2025) · DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.11032516

Resumen

This study investigates the relationship between socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and legal outcomes in Driving Under the Influence (DUI) cases adjudicated in the District Court of Huancavelica, Peru, during 2022, based on a sample of 200 cases. The findings indicate that the average access to legal counsel among low-income defendants (n = 75) was 0.82 ± 0.15, significantly lower than that of the high-income group (n = 75), who demonstrated a mean access of 0.94 ± 0.09 (p = 0.0005). Indigenous defendants (n = 90) also exhibited reduced access to counsel (mean = 0.60 ± 0.28) compared to non-indigenous defendants. Breathalyzer inaccuracies, including system calibration errors (β =-0.25), equipment malfunctions (β =-0.30), and improper test administration (β =-0.22), were found to negatively affect case outcomes, reducing the likelihood of case dismissal and undermining the reliability of evidence. The study further revealed substantial delays in case processing, disproportionately affecting low-income (p < 0.01) and indigenous defendants, which in turn were associated with higher conviction rates and financial penalties. These results provide strong evidence of systemic inequities within the criminal justice system, whereby low-income and indigenous defendants experience reduced access to legal representation, extended trial delays, and disproportionately severe convictions. The study underscores the urgent need for judicial reforms to ensure equal access to justice regardless of socioeconomic or ethnic background.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional de Huancavelica; Universidad Peruana Los Andes