The idea of reducing the prison population through alternative sentences isn’t a bad one. Prison has evolved towards being daycare for criminals; air conditioning, tvs, Internet access, etc.
Better, I think, to create work programs where lower-level offenders can actually repay their debt to society and do so in a way that discourages recidivism. Shipping them out to remote locations where they can perform CCC style work, build skills, etc. But under conditions where they won’t have any desire to go back.
I don't agree.
The problem is there are too many crimes. And, the penalty for those crimes is far, far too lenient.