[Jeff Higgins]

There is a side to this that has not yet been mentioned - one of the functions of "warehousing" criminals is that of protecting the rest of us from them. Taking them off of the streets and locking them up protects society from them, at least while they are incarcerated. Let's not lose sight of that. Yes, rehabilitating them should always be one of the goals, and they should be given every opportunity to take advantage of programs that help them find another way.

At some point, however, we have to accept that some are well and truly lost causes. Repeat offenders that will never be anything more than a burden or even a threat to the rest of society. While on the one hand we do not do enough to rehabilitate those who would like to be, we are also not nearly hard enough on those who clearly have no desire to lead a productive life and contribute to society.

Some states have "three strikes" laws that incarcerate violent felons for life after their third conviction. All that really means, however, is that they get free room, board, and health care for the rest of their useless lives. Why on earth do we continue to do this, continue to support these people? Just euthanize them. All of them. Anyone who has proven themselves to be unreceptive to rehabilitation. Maybe with that sort of an end looming over the horizon, more of them would find the motivation to try something different. And, if they don't, at least they are removed as a burden and a threat to the rest of us.