No, most criminals are pretty damn good at failing before they end up in the system. Prison just makes it official.
still does not argue that the system is a massive and lucrative jobs program for:
1) C & D students to become clerical
cops, jailers, and bailiffs getting 5 times the compensation the productive sector would pay them
2) mediocre lawyers to become DAs & PDs also getting paid 5 times what they would otherwise earn
3) political hacks to be appointed Judges because they can‘t even get elected dog catcher
It’s a massive jobs program for losers who‘d otherwise be working at MickyDs. Everyone realizes this; so they make certain to never let anyone succeed in getting out of their clutches