| Sumario: | Justice system practices generate socio-economic inequalities, with socio-structural consequences in countries such as the United States (Western & Pettit, 2010). Using Bourdieu's concept of social reproduction, this study examines how social structure influences penal practices in Canada. Using provincial data from 1998 to 2019, the study assesses the impact of socio-structural factors (e.g. media coverage of crime, poverty, political ideology) on court decisions. Results reveal that socio-structural factors associated with cultural and economic capital affect incarceration, remand, and community supervision sentences. Increased media coverage is associated with higher incarceration and remand rates, while immigration and economic markers positively relate to remand and community supervision. The results suggest the perpetuation of social inequalities through penal practices in Canada.
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