New York

That relentless harassment of an underclass contributes to a climate of lawlessness and anger among its denizens that leads to a great deal of disruptive and criminal activity. People tagged with even a misdemeanor or two on top of other disadvantages tend to find failure in life more often than most. Any brush with the system is liable to lead to a life-time association.

I am not denying there is a problem to be solved, but the use of this as a reason for continuing something which clearly has not worked to address it gets right up my left nostril.