[Satan]

Letting them out 5 years later, as opposed to 20 years later won't change a thing. Not only that, but the American prison system would make them a worse person.

Which gets into another topic entirely, reformation of America's prison systems and how their run.

I'll keep my beliefs on that short, but basically my view is until someone truly feels remorse and regret for their crime, their punishment should continue, at their own expense, so that it is not a little party in prison, and it is not somewhere criminal would enjoy going. Physical labor in exchange for their housing, food, etc, would be more appropriate, and more likely teach a greater lesson.

But, that raises the question of how would one truly know if someone feels remorse.
That's a question for psychologists to answer.

So long as the cons prison was worse than any pro they could possibly have, fear would theoretically outweigh the desire to commit the crime.

Aye. If a man kills another man, and is thrown in a horrible place where everyone has killed another man... Well I mean come on, you don't exactly make a miraculous change of heart 100% of the time.

Which is why I don't believe the population should be allowed to mingle together. The point of jail is a repercussion and punishment for committing a crime. Do you let a child, when you send them to time out, have social time? Do you let them watch television, play games, etc?

The punishment is no longer a punishment. I've heard quite often of people going to jail because it is better than their current life.