Oh for sure, effective rehab programs need a decent chunk of funding. And they are expensive until they start paying for themselves years or even decades down the line. And their benefits are typically indirect so they are very hard to actually measure their success.

But it’s shown time and time again that the current system doesn’t work. And I would rather we spend what little money we have getting rapists longer sentences than thieves and vandals.

Prisons don’t really do much to deter crimes with short sentences anyway. And they often result in people just getting more damaged and more likely to commit more crime.

Most crimes which carry short sentences should be handled through probation and social support (not financial obviously).

Community service is a classic punishment which I think makes good sense for nonviolent crime.

A bigger problem is the inability to sentence violent offenders to lengthy stays in prisons. And of course the lack of rehabilitation in those prisons.