I don't think I agree with the extreme nature of the premise a number of comments up the thread, that said my favorite example of this:

http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20101104/NEWS/101109939 A hedge fund manager had his criminal charges substantially reduced over the victim's objections because having a felony would mean the hedge fund manager would have to admit what he did to his clients. The defendant in question struck a bicyclist in a hit and run, drove far away and called for roadside assistance for his car never mentioning anything about the bicyclist he left with lifelong injuries. Of course the excuse is that after he was caught he agree to pay some restitution to the victim...

Anyway, just a crazy story that I figured I'd share so not really a study of real national trends or anything.