Good question, I don’t know. Yes, something else is going on here inside her head.
I know of a distinguished lawyer with many years experience. He was picked up for shoplifting a book. After that was processed through the court, he did it again. He ended up in forced into retirement, lost his reputation, his license, wife divorced him, kids disowned him, a downhill spiral. He was suffering from mental illness (severe depression and bipolar). He now tries to help others who suffer from these diseases. I respect him for that and to do something positive with his life for others.
Other than being related biologically to Joe, this is not a happy day in their family. He isn’t responsible even for the court outcome, though her Biden background had to be a factor such that the judge probably weighed the ability to pay restitution, and the chance that it won’t happen again in determining the sentence. Next time it will be harder. Hang around a courthouse someday and you will see even the lowest classes in our society are more often than not given a 2nd chance. The repeat offenders ...well that is a different tune.
Finally, what it shows is that these types of things - mental illness and/or criminal behavior can come from any level in society. While I have a lot to criticize Old Joe about, I don’t blame him here. I don’t blame the judge either as I wasn’t sitting in the courtroom.
Different folks different dynamics. For some shop lifting is a thrill sport. These people will steal literally anything. Like the well off business owner whose wife couldn't figure out where all the odd sized men's cloths complete with store tickets that her husband generously donated to the church clothes closet were coming from. For some people it is a compulsion they can't explain. Years ago a engine maintenance USAF MSGT was found to have stolen more than half the parts for a jet aircraft engine, which he was assembling in his garage. He had first stolen a large array of specialized tools to do the job. His wife called his CO when she saw what was growing in the garage. The USAF was very good to this fellow, who was a model NCO and a truly outstanding aircraft engine man. He had to carefully disassemble his project and with assistance from his base shop return everything and then submit to a long stint of psychological counseling. The psych people were fascinated with the case but could find no particular stressor. The man came from a poor background and the Depression was harsh for him but as he said everyone was poor where he was from. He got to retire with his grade after completing counseling and returning all his acquisitions. The Security Police were also very interested in how he had gotten some large parts off the base.