Two of my closest friends have spent time in the joint.
Lots of people become “felons” for silly reasons such has having guns in the car, burglarizing DNC headquarters to look for call girl records, etc.
Hubby ran a hotshot fire crew for about a decade. Back then prisoners from Tehachapi prison could work with the firefighters on fires and get paid some nominal amount. The same guys seemed to sign up all the time so he got to know a few of them. He had a few really bad guys on the crew who he said was always soft spoken and yes sir, no sir types. He said they were great to work with since they were appreciative to just get out of the prison when they could. I don’t think they still have that program though.