That could be because our system has lots of fees and much longer jail times than many other places. It’s harder to get away, especially if you’re poor.
There's also the simple fact that fuckups tend to fuck up, and tend to keep fucking up. So getting repeatedly in trouble with the law is kind of an indication that you're just the kind of mongo who can't get along in society. Look at Chris-Chan. Lolcows in particular rarely improve their behavior because it's never their fault. They're just persecuted by the police for no reason at all, because they hate the autistic or whatever.
Obviously the being poor thing is a factor.
The UK has legal aid which unlike a public defender means that one can get a bit more of an experienced or less overworked solicitor.
Rather than an assigned counsel, it’s a matter of finding a lawyer willing to take the case for legal aid.
But I always got the impression that British coppers overall are more willing to let a first or even second offense go.
Plus being caught with a bit of weed or a pill or two isn’t usually prison time, mostly it’s confiscation, a telling off, maybe a fine and then that’s that.
There is more of a boys will be boys attitude, so provided you don’t do anything silly once you are over 20 or so, then they don’t really want to fuck up your life over a drunken scrap or a joint.
What appears to be more common than the US is people doing some time and then trying and managing to go straight.
Some guys get qualified to work as a builder or sparkle or something inside and generally speaking most construction or blue collar employers are not fussed about a bit of time at his majesty’s pleasure.
Even a lot of white collar employers don’t mind if you have a spent conviction, depending on the crime.
British prisons are focused more on attempting to rehabilitate rather than punish.
Plus employers are more willing to give a lad a chance as people fuck up.
Sweden is largely similar, and people do even less time.
Except getting drunk and fighting, that can get you in massive trouble, rapists often get less than a couple of lads having a Barney after too many beers and shots.
Anyway, it sounds like fatrick got lucky, probably PCJ telling him to fuck off and leave them alone was the best thing anyone could have done for him.