I don't have a problem with punitive treatment for violent repeat offenders such as child molesters, rapists and murderers. For the rest - rehabilitation. many times the person is basically a good person whose circumstances led to a bad situation. when a teen-ager with rich parents does something stupid (which adolescents will do) then the parents hire top attorneys, etc., and help the kid work the system. Those from poor families can't do that. But that doesn't mean they are more dangerous.

The brain doesn't fully mature until the mid-20s and so while a 21 year old might legally be an adult, he or she might still make impulsive and bad decisions, particularly if there are no good mentors to guide him or her.

I would love it if we had real training programs for all except the truly dangerous. For example, provide them with a real salary for real work and allow them to use that money to pay for amenities like better food, a private room, etc. Or let them send it home to help their families, if that is what they want. Treat them like a real human being and help them to build up skills they lack such as impulse control. Encourage therapy and mental health. Let them work in a garden, care for pets, play an instrument or create art - anything that will help them to feel more at peace, sane, and compassionate.

I feel the same way about welfare - I wish we helped people to really get back on their feet and we cared enough to realize that people should not be disposable. Whether we are talking about prisons, the welfare state, or public education, it seems that the real focus is on benefiting the administration vs. the actual people who need help.