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Comment by coliveira | Hacker News Reader

> especially for low level, non violent stuff

This is codeword for financial, white collar crimes. So, it is definitely a policy serving the rich.

Minor drug offences could also fit that though — possession or even someone dealing weed mightn't be directly involved in any violence at all

Or petty theft, shoplifting etc.

I think GP probably meant "stupid stuff young people do" minor drugs, drinking underage or even DUI, fighting, theft, vandalism.

If you were under ~25, and it was "stupid kid stuff" why ruin someone's life.

If you're 40 with a good job and get caught embezzeling, totally different in my view. Old enough to know better.

More or less, yeah, you got it.

Shoplifting is low level, non violent, and very very common. The only shoplifting I've heard of by the rich is a famous actress who had a shoplifting fetish.

It's generally the disadvantaged and poor who get hit for low-level, non-violent stuff.

Are they the ones also committing more of them statistically - is that why (or are you saying they are targeted)? And if so why is that the case - there are plenty of people who are disadvantaged and poor and don’t commit crimes. Look at various immigrant minority groups for example.

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> It's generally the disadvantaged and poor who get hit for low-level, non-violent stuff.

In my country (New Zealand) judges let off young people who look like them, regularly.

"This young man [not but almost always a man] has a great future and he should not be burdened...."

That is if they are an aspiring accountant, laywer, sports star, etcetera

If they are a young bricklayer, welder, etcetera it is tough luck

It is absolutely disgusting. No wonder so many people want to burn the whole thing down

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