Punishment is the act of making a person suffer for a crime or offense that he has committed. Through the ages people have been punished for inappropriate actions. Even in certain cultures' mythology, such as Greece, characters have received punishment. So let us say that a man was caught in the act of burglarizing a home. He would probably receive a minor prison sentence.
Imprisonment is a punishment in itself.
In prison he would receive food, shelter, clothing, and regular grooming, all of which he may not have received before. So in fact he is better off to commit a crime and be provided for, rather than try to provide for himself. I believe that, yes, the offenders should be provided for in prison, but they should only receive the bare necessities. The prisoners should not get free cigarettes, especially when we, the good, taxpaying citizens provide for their medical attention. The prisoners should not be allowed to exercise or even have television privileges.