Regardless of the nature of the crime, if there are legal proceedings, it should be like a crime, and the offender should serve time. A non-violent criminal should not be given a chance to select rehab over jail time. This method is soft and shows too much consideration towards criminals. 

The goal is to correct the criminal's behavior, but there's no way to guarantee that the criminal intends to change their practices and not repeat their actions.

Rehabilitation as an alternative to jail gained momentum in the 70s, and U.S. prison policy started propagating it. But that was then. No matter what petty or non-violent crime has been committed, a criminal needs to be punished.

If non-violent criminals are given a chance to select rehab instead of prison, what is their incentive to mend their ways or stop them from repeating their actions? Given a choice, hardly anyone would elect for jail time over rehab. A lack of serious consequence, if anything, provides motivation to become involved in more crimes. 

Jail diversion programs will do more harm than good. If sent to rehab, a petty thief will not reform but will return to their old ways once released. But if they are sent to prison, serving a decent jail time will affect the prisoner and possibly instill fear of reverting to their old ways. Once they are released from jail time, they will surely think twice before revisiting their dark past. 

Moreover, many so-called proponents of rehab emphasize taking care of mental health. The law is meant to punish the guilty, not devise forms of recreation and healing for criminals. For instance, if a drug offender or a peddler is arrested and goes through rehabilitation, they might think twice before ending up in the same situation again. The same person coming out of jail will have a much higher incentive not to repeat their offense to avoid more jail time. That's the difference.

Alcohol and drug addiction are not recognized as a disease of the body. Some experts argue that sending non-violent criminals to rehab centers saves space in jail. This only encourages criminals to continue their behavior because they know the government has other options for them.

A lack of jail time invites criminals to try more significant crimes. If a shoplifter is granted a correction program, they may graduate to something bigger and more dangerous on release. Without fear of punishment, they may try burglary, possibly shooting someone during the robbery. Crime must be nipped in the bud, irrespective of its size and nature. 

No non-violent criminal should be allowed to choose rehabilitation programs instead of jail time. Doing so will have severe consequences. A crime needs to be treated as a crime, and punishment should be jail time rather than rehabilitation.