<p>This research paper examines the effect of the type of legal representation -public versus private- on the length of sentences in the Ecuadorian criminal justice system. Utilizing data from the 2022 penitentiary census, which provides comprehensive demographic and judicial information for the entire prison population, I employ a multiple linear regression model to analyze sentence outcomes. Findings reveal that defendants represented by public defenders receive significantly longer sentences than those with private attorneys, even after controlling for various factors such as defendant demographics, economic background, family circumstances, and the nature of the crime. Specifically, defendants with public counsel receive, on average, 0.551&#xa0;years more in their sentence (six and a half months). These results suggest a systematic disadvantage for defendants with public legal representation, raising critical questions about the equity and fairness of the judicial process in Ecuador. The robustness and validity of my findings, enabled by the detailed and extensive dataset, underscore the need for policy interventions aimed at ensuring equal access to quality legal defense.</p>