[alistairSH]

The thing I think most law-abiding/normal people don't understand about the types of people in prisons is that they are almost exclusively habitual offenders.

While that is true, there are classes of crime that are automatic felonies with mandatory prison time. Things like assaulting a police officer. Which doesn't have to be throwing a punch - simply resisting handcuffs is sufficient for the felony assault charge if the officer is mad enough and friendly with the prosecutor.