The cost of incarceration is high, yes, but there is a price to be paid for not incarcerating people who need to be incarcerated, and the people who pay that price are most often the poor. The poor are disproportionately the victimes of crime.
The rich can insulate themselves, in their exclusive neighborhoods, gated communities, and with their expensive alarms systems. The poor have to count on the state to fund the aggressive law enforcement and long prison sentences that help keep them safe.
When prison sentences lengthen, human suffering is reduced.
You made an interesting point; one I've not thought of before.
"The rich can insulate themselves, in their exclusive neighborhoods, gated communities, and with their expensive alarms systems. The poor have to count on the state to fund the aggressive law enforcement and long prison sentences that help keep them safe."
In my case, I have none of that. I would, however like it if my d*ckhead socialist Governor would stop VETOING Concealed Carry so I could at least go down fighting if I were a victim of crime away from my home. (He hasn't sent his jack-booted thugs in to yank our guns from our homes...yet!) Grrrr!