How did punishments reflect social status?

Punishments historically reflected social status by differing in severity and type based on an individual's rank or wealth. Nobles might face fines or imprisonment, while commoners could endure harsher penalties like corporal punishment or execution for the same offenses. This disparity reinforced social hierarchies, as the elite often had the means to evade severe consequences, thereby perpetuating their privileged position in society. Overall, the justice system served to uphold the existing social order, privileging the powerful while disproportionately punishing the marginalized.