Empathy Contagion Warps Justice Decisions

True‑crime shows and social platforms can turn empathy into a contagious narrative that drowns out contrary evidence and mobilizes mass demands to free convicted offenders. In the Menendez case, abuse allegations emerged late while premeditation evidence is strong, yet an online movement—amplified by streaming—pushes for release and influences officials. — If platform‑amplified empathy can tilt prosecutors and resentencing, courts and policymakers need guardrails to keep legal standards from being reset by viral narratives.