> Basically any system which prosecutes crime is going to be biased against poor people

Bias indicates prejudice. It's central to every modern system of law to avoid prejudice.

> Poverty is correlated with criminal activity

Men with non-receding hairlines (no signs of baldness) are also correlated with criminal activity. It doesn't mean that they should be treated any differently by the justice system. If a person should be punished for a crime then they should be punished for the crime, not for their socio-economic background.

This program is inherently discriminatory against people of low socio-economic status. The article clearly states that less than 2% actually qualified for a full ride, not to mention offenders from low socio-economic status are known to be less aware, or less willing to utilize these types of aid. This is seen from all sorts of offender rehabilitation programs and social aid programs. This will only lead the impoverished to be further marginalized.

Think of it this way, the man in Florida who was arrested 258 times by corrupt police for "trespassing" at his own place of work would not qualify for said program for no reason other than he was an impoverished minority, and was therefore more likely to be targeted by police and less likely to fight fraudulent charges.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2512374/Florida-poli...