Not that it matters, but my learning from having friends and acquaintances who were convicted of crimes is:

Criminality is a spectrum.

It's not as Yes/No as one might think to deduce if someone is a criminal. Propensity to commit crime is not a static variable; it can vary a lot based on many factors in life. (We're talking 'actual crimes' here, not bullshit 'maybe crimes' like civil disobedience or carrying 1g of weed).

I've known people who were assholes get deeper into a criminal record with no remorse, and people who were A+ students do some dumbass criminal things and then work hard to put it past them. The point is: a paper record doesn't tell the full story of criminal propensity/probability - in either case - and doesn't perfectly foresee the future of someone's potential.

I'm not saying people who committed crimes are just "misguided innocents" or that "we should feel sorry for them" like they are in a wheelchair with a disability. Hold them to the same accountability as everyone else, and if they are trying to become better people then don't interfere with that.

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As examples, here's some stories of people I knew:

Person1: Had a WRX in college, took it out streetracing on the highway at 3am, hit another car at 120mph (nobody died, but bones were broken) and charged with felony reckless driving. He posted bail, and had to withdraw from classes that semester while his court case was going on. Also had his license revoked (unsurprisingly). Had to live with a 2hr bus to/from college for the next 3 years since he was a commuter student, and also do a ton of community service. Still, he stuck through it, graduated, and now has a solid job as a software sales manager (he's a safer driver now and his car insurance premiums are his lifelong reminder).

Person2: Started dealing weed in high school and moved up to dealing up more drugs in greater quantities by age 20 to make more money. He had a few traffic tickets, but never any misdemeanor/felony charges at the time. This guy just oozed "piece of shit", in my opinion - was a bit like Jesse Pinkman from Breaking Bad (in clothes and demeanor), bought himself a blacked-out used BMW and also got a handgun illegally (to further embody the drug dealer persona), and bragged about beating a guy unconscious once who tried to short him on cash. Eventually got caught with weed, coke, xanax, and $2k cash in a traffic stop. Ended up taking a plea deal with probation (skirted jail due to 1st major offense). Worked a minimum wage job during probation, still continued his same shitty behavior on the side because he wanted the money from it. 2 years after his probation was over, his apartment got busted by the cops, and now he's in jail (idk for how long).

Person3: Another dealer, but this guy stuck to only weed products (weed, oils, wax, edibles in illegal state). He was an infosys student, and more of a "hippy stoner" (long hair, hoodie, sandals, drove a minivan). He was a chill dude to smoke with, and did not treat selling weed like The Wire (would throw in free spliffs with every quarter oz). Ended up getting caught when he was making an exchange with his supplier and was taken in for "intent to distribute". He spent a few days in jail while the cops wanted to make a case of his supplier. Ended up with probation. He stopped dealing weed, though he still grows his own for personal consumption now that he lives in CO. I believe he is a vegan now and works for some non-profit as a developer.