> and that really should be the only point for prisons (protect the public)
That's not true. Our prisons should protect the public, rehabilitate prisoners in so far as they can, and, to an appropriate extent, punish.
Some people are skittish about the idea of punsihment.
But it's abhorrent to our sense of justice that one suffer no consequences after committing a crime.
Now in general I think our prisons and sentencing guidelines to a pretty terrible job at all three of these things but that is another story altogether.
That's not true. Our prisons should protect the public, rehabilitate prisoners in so far as they can, and, to an appropriate extent, punish.
Some people are skittish about the idea of punsihment. But it's abhorrent to our sense of justice that one suffer no consequences after committing a crime.
Now in general I think our prisons and sentencing guidelines to a pretty terrible job at all three of these things but that is another story altogether.