According to Wikipedia, as best we can figure from differing accounts, Manson
had some tough breaks but not all that had them had his story. Some, no matter
how poor, would never join a crime group, but he seems to have had an unflagging
intention to make it in the crime world from youth and stunk at it--perhaps a
growing source of frustration.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Manson
Note that the stories he offered vary but give the responsible ones as the bad
guys to get away from and the criminals were the ones to be a part of.
When I say org. crime would consider him too risky I'm not kidding. He was
considered dangerous early on. You could just hear him talk for less than a
minute and know something wasn't wired up right. He may have fared better in
better circumstances but to some degree he was a self starter.