[Tax-chick]

the men were with two women who got into a fight

LOL!

And why is it "troubled" pasts, rather than "criminal" pasts (not to mention presents, but fortunately not futures)?

[Frank_2001]

“And why is it “troubled” pasts, rather than “criminal” pasts”

Well, lefties say that they’re victims of their environment-being victimized by nasty gringos, jackbooted policemen, eeevil big business, and cruel Republicans;)

[r9etb]

And why is it "troubled" pasts, rather than "criminal" pasts (not to mention presents, but fortunately not futures)?

Same reason that Simon and Garfunkle didn't sing Bridge over Criminal Waters ... it doesn't sound as psycho-spiffy. And we all know that psycho-spiffy is what all good J-school students want to achieve.

[ApplegateRanch]

And why is it "troubled" pasts, rather than "criminal" pasts

For the same reason that, in many reports, some female has "found herself pregnant" after just sleeping with a boyfriend, with seemingly no sexual activity involved. Just sleeping.

Other times, just walking down the the street, they 'fell pregnant', but no mention of what they tripped over.