It makes sense for violent crimes such as assault and robbery, and crimes that can easily turn violent, such as burglary and theft, to be punished more harshly than nonviolent crimes.
That being said, locking up perpetrators of victimless crimes, like drug dealers, drug users, and prostitutes is a travesty.
Why? Shutting off CA's electricity (Enron) killed more people than any simple murderer. Hooking millions on opioids causes violence. Stealing money via paperwork takes away the victims access to health care.
Street crime is a absolutely trivial compared to the harm that white collar crime does.
Yeah, it really only requires one to think one or two steps beyond the immediate act to see how horrible white collar crime is.
In a country full of uninsured citizens and underfed children, exactly how do people find billions in wage theft to be a minor crime? Only by thoughtlessness, I’d say.
That being said, locking up perpetrators of victimless crimes, like drug dealers, drug users, and prostitutes is a travesty.