Punishment or not, prison gets bad guys off the streets. That cuts crime. If a neighborhood (it really goes by neighborhood, or small area) tolerates some degree of crime say TFA (theft from auto), then it will get worse crime, such a drugs and turf wars.
If you convince the bad guys to go elsewhere by tighter policing (police do allocate assets to some degree by which neighborhood gives a damn), then life is better in the community.
Saying prison doesn’t make a difference is just patently stupid. It gets bad guys away from normal people. Whether it’s a deterrent or not when they get out, they still haven’t haven’t stolen a batttery or mugged someone for several years.
The real problem is that we don’t run our prisons the way we should. Cool Hand Luke would be a great model.
“It gets bad guys away from normal people.”
I couldn’t agree more; however, with conditions as they are inside, there are many would-be felons who simply don’t care whether they’re in or out. That’s a weak incentive to lead an honest life for those with criminal tendencies.