Nice try. As we’ve famously found out in this case, Rice was charged with a third-degree misdemeanor and “diverted” out of the usual flow toward the big house for what certainly would be a trial and jail for the rest of us.
I dare to suggest that similarly, an offense that would get most of us arrested is often seen as less offensive when the rich NFL player gets a fancy lawyer to explain it away.
I don’t think completion of counseling in lieu of jail time is uncommon for first offenders without other problems with the law.