Criminals are apparently considered unworthy of civil rights. Just witness how many people justify the recent high-profile police killings by pointing out that one victim had previously robbed a convenience store and another one was selling cigarettes on the black market. In many people's minds, "selling illegal cigarettes" equates to "OK to kill in the street." Given that, it's no wonder that prison conditions aren't scrutinized.
> Just witness how many people justify the recent high-profile police killings by pointing out that one victim had previously robbed a convenience store and another one was selling cigarettes on the black market
I haven't seen many people use Brown's robbing the convenience store (and assaulting the shopkeeper) to justify his shooting. It's his attacking the officer and trying to take the officer's gun that is typically used as justification.
The convenience store was relevant before the forensic evidence was available, because at the time we had to choose between two stories, neither of which made much sense:
1. Cop with no prior evidence of problems flips out for no apparent reason and blows away a young man who he had stopped for jaywalking, or
2. Young man who was kind, gentle, non-violent and never harmed anyone flips out for no apparent reason and attacks a cop who is just trying to tell him to walk on the sidewalk.
Both of these require someone to be acting way out of known character. Add in the convenience store, and we know that Brown was already acting way out of character that day, just moments before the shooting, which tips the probabilities way in favor of #2.
Now that the forensic evidence is available and backs #2, there are two questions that we should be asking.
1. Why was Brown acting so out of character that day?
Or were we seeing the "real" Brown that day, and the character he presented to family, teachers, clergy, etc., was a front? If so, then we should be finding out how he fooled them, so that in the future teachers and clergy can do a better job of recognizing such people and intervening.
2. Why did Officer Wilson allow himself to get into a position where Brown could attack him and go for his gun?
Character doesn't really interest me. People can be extremely inconsistent. It's to the point where it's a standard joke that the neighbors of serial killers describe them as being nice people. So I personally see no inconsistency with either the supposed nice kid going bonkers or the supposed good cop turning murderous.
To me, the interesting questions are your second one plus the question of why the officer started shooting instead of leaving the scene, potentially returning with backup, since he was still in his car.
The second half of your statement is untrue. Google "prison rape reduction act" - this has resulted in a significant improvement as reported both through scientific surveys and anecdotal accounts.
Meanwhile, jokes about prison rape are socially acceptable & the US government refuses to do much of anything to stop it.