I completely agree with you that although the goal of some prison systems is to rehabilitate their prisoners, the harsh, violent conditions often serve to debilitate them even further. As a result of the tier security structure of our nation's prison system, many prisoners are forced to enter prison based on the type of crime they committed not based on their potential for violence while incarcerated. A person who lived their entire life as a law-abiding member of society and came home to find their spouse in bed with another person and in a crime of passion commits assault will be sentenced to a maximum security prison. This person is not violent and has no criminal past and will be placed among hardened career criminals who are members of
