Subject: Re: Sir Dope1
It is just common sense to make a distinction between a first time offender and a career criminal, even if both are presumed innocent of the recent crime that got them arrested.

Perhaps, but that's not demonstrated in the case that started off this thread. The homeless man in question had prior arrests, but it does not appear that he had previously been convicted. And I suspect from the description in the article that those prior arrests weren't due to him pursuing crime as a career, but rather having significant mental health problems.