---
[ ARCHIVE ](https://www.citywatchla.com/archive)
# Why People are Donating $$ to Convicted Felon … with Handsome Mug Shot
June 23 2014
Written by Judd Legum.
[](https://www.addtoany.com/share)
***MEDIA POLITICS***-Jeremy Meeks is a convicted felon, an alleged gang member and is currently being held in jail on more felony weapons charges. Bail has been set [at $1,000,000](http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/21/justice/jeremy-meeks-weapons-charges/).
That’s not a typical biography for an internet celebrity.
Yet, Meeks has a Facebook page with [over 120,000 fans](https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jeremy-Meeks/1450439158545080). His mother started a fundraising page that’s attracted [145 donations and over $2500 in one day](http://www.gofundme.com/aih9m8). And the hashtag [\#FreeJeremyMeeks](http://topsy.com/analytics?q1=%23freejeremymeeks&via=Topsy) is trending on Twitter.
The positive feelings are all related to his “handsome” mug shot, which was [posted by the Stockton Police Department](https://www.facebook.com/stocktonpolicedepartment/photos/a.626455570783704.1073742424.205951982834067/626455670783694/) on Facebook this week, and quickly became a sensation. It is a stunning example of how the American criminal justice system — in which defendants have the right to be judged by a jury of their peers — is often influenced by superficial attributes.
Meeks’ experience is due to a type of cognitive bias known as “the halo effect.” This refers to the tendency to “view others holistically, that is, as [all good or all bad](http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/natural-history-the-modern-mind/200907/the-halo-effect-in-overdrive).” In forming our overall opinion people are “[highly influenced by first impressions](http://www.economist.com/node/14299211)” and when “we see a person first in a good light, it is difficult subsequently to darken that light.”
This is why, for example, companies pay “beautiful actresses to promote products about which they have absolutely no expertise.” It is also why, once someone sees a mug shot of Meeks and concludes he’s attractive, it’s hard to also believe he’s guilty of a crime.
A 1975 study found “unless they have used their attractiveness to commit a crime (for example, a swindle), [good-looking people are likely to receive highly favorable treatment in the legal system](http://biasandbelief.pbworks.com/w/page/6537193/Halo%20Effects%20of%20Attractiveness).”
For participants in the study, “When the crime was unrelated to attractiveness (burglary), subjects would assign more lenient sentences to the attractive defendant than to the unattractive defendant.”
A more recent UK study found “[attractive suspects were more likely to be acquitted](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-443754/Ugly-defendants-likely-guilty-attractive-ones.html#ixzz35J2LzsIZ), despite there being no extra evidence in their favor.”
So Meeks’ good looks have not only resulted in some money for his criminal defense and a bit of celebrity, but it will also make it more likely he receives an acquittal or more lenient punishment if his case goes to trial.
***(Judd Legum is Editor-in-Chief .. and founder … of ThinkProgress. … where this article was first posted.)***
***-cw***
**CityWatch**
**Vol 12 Issue 51**
**Pub: June 24, 2014**
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/107 "LA DWP | Save $4K, Green | Priority Ad")
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/98 "Donna Tryfman - HS1-1")
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/82 "LA DWP #2 (Power Savers)")
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/111 "David DeJute Campaign")
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/97 "Home - LA DWP #2 (Pay Water Bill Help)")
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/112 "Anna Reitano Vertical R. Col")
## Get The News In Your Email Inbox Mondays & Thursdays
First Name
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/110 "Something You Should Know")
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/113 "Rhonda Haymon campaign")
---
## Featured CityWatch Stories
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/neighborhood-politics/33486-why-would-la-voters-elect-a-city-attorney-who-has-never-tried-a-case-in-court-in-front-of-a-jury)
### [Why Would LA Voters Elect A City Attorney Who Has Never Tried A Case In Court In Front Of A Jury?](https://www.citywatchla.com/neighborhood-politics/33486-why-would-la-voters-elect-a-city-attorney-who-has-never-tried-a-case-in-court-in-front-of-a-jury)
OP-ED - I am writing to my neighbors over my deep concern about the candidacy of Marissa Roy for Los Angeles City Attor…
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/33508-a-los-angeles-trilogy-the-successes-and-failures-that-defined-our-leadership)
### [A Los Angeles Trilogy: The Successes and Failures That Defined Our Leadership](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/33508-a-los-angeles-trilogy-the-successes-and-failures-that-defined-our-leadership)
NICK’S VIEW - Los Angeles needs purposeful, decisive leadership. Without it, the city risks sleepwalking into crisis. T…
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/neighborhood-politics/33516-if-your-family-were-being-stalked-who-would-protect-you)
### [If Your Family Were Being Stalked, Who Would Protect You?](https://www.citywatchla.com/neighborhood-politics/33516-if-your-family-were-being-stalked-who-would-protect-you)
MARSY'S LAW - Imagine a 54-year-old man fixates on your child. He won't stop. Then he turns on you and the rest of your…
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/election-2024/33510-nithya-ramans-fascist-stunt-wasnt-leadership-it-was-disqualifying)
### [Nithya Raman’s ‘Fascist’ Stunt Wasn’t Leadership. It Was Disqualifying](https://www.citywatchla.com/election-2024/33510-nithya-ramans-fascist-stunt-wasnt-leadership-it-was-disqualifying)
THE BOTTOM LINE - Los Angeles has enough serious problems without turning the race for mayor into a social-media circus…
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/world-watch/33501-the-slow-motion-erasure-of-the-west-bank)
### [The Slow-Motion Erasure Of The West Bank](https://www.citywatchla.com/world-watch/33501-the-slow-motion-erasure-of-the-west-bank)
WEST BANK - There are crimes that arrive with explosions, and crimes that advance quietly—through a bulldozer at dawn…
---
## [ ARCHIVE ](https://www.citywatchla.com/archive)
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/archive/15339-early-intervention-and-jobs-are-key-to-stemming-chronic-homelessness-in-los-angeles)### [Early Intervention and Jobs are Key to Stemming Chronic Homelessness in Los Angeles](https://www.citywatchla.com/archive/15339-early-intervention-and-jobs-are-key-to-stemming-chronic-homelessness-in-los-angeles)
### [Tucker Carlson and Gay Rightwinger Blame California Wildfires On Hiring LGBTQ People](https://www.citywatchla.com/archive/18755-tucker-carlson-and-gay-rightwinger-blame-california-wildfires-on-hiring-lgbtq-people)
### [Anti-LGBTQ Veep Just Can’t Stop Talking about Mayor Pete](https://www.citywatchla.com/archive/17690-anti-lgbtq-veep-just-can-t-stop-talking-about-mayor-pete)
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/archive/15316-news-pulse-corrupt-system-reason-for-not-voting-in-2018-majority-wants-more-than-two-parties)### [NEWS PULSE: ‘Corrupt System’ Reason for Not Voting in 2018 … Majority Wants More Than Two Parties](https://www.citywatchla.com/archive/15316-news-pulse-corrupt-system-reason-for-not-voting-in-2018-majority-wants-more-than-two-parties)
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/archive/10245-dead-dog-set-on-fire-sparks-fears-for-strays-in-los-angeles)### [Dead Dog Set on Fire … Sparks Fears for Strays in Los Angeles](https://www.citywatchla.com/archive/10245-dead-dog-set-on-fire-sparks-fears-for-strays-in-los-angeles)