If they serve their sentence, and are not convicted of any crimes while behind bars, they are released regardless of the potential for recidivism. The only exception is an indeterminate sentence that involves the possibility of life in prison. Tools, Opportunity, Motivation I am advocating a philosophy that provides persons with the tools opportunities they need to change, and then motivates them by refusing to release them until there is objective evidence that they have indeed changed. Now I am going to hit some raw nerves. Most of our state penitentiary-type institutions should be phased out and replaced with smaller, more civilized facilities.
Smaller facilities mean smaller populations, which translates into less violence.
It also means programs for education, reform and recovery could be administered more efficiently, and individual progress monitored more carefully. Cleanliness and livability is easier to maintain in a smaller facility. Those things translate into better morale, which means more willingness to take the various programs seriously. That, of course, means a higher success rate. I would not advocate the overnight implementation of such radical reforms.