People will commit small crimes in order to get their $100k a year payout. Imagine how many people there are that would be willing to do a small amount of jail time to get $100k a year free for the rest of their life.

It would be better if we stopped arresting people for crimes that don't hurt anyone... like say possession of marijuana. There are more people arrested for marijuana than all other violent crimes combined (source) and legalizing marijuana would take away markets from violent drug trafficking organizations which would in turn mean less murders, and criminals associated with these organizations.

Problem solved, money saved.

Sure, let me get busted for MJ possession and I'll gladly take the 100K to pay off my bills and live crime free. Sounds like a fair exchange to me!

Well, it should be understood I think that most of that money spent goes to presumably good law abiding corrections officers who contribute in a positive way to the economy.

Still though, it does seem steep, so we should definitely do a couple things:

1. decriminalize marijuana

2. stop paying for psychologists for the crimes of pre-meditated murder, rape, and pedophiles so they can be "rehabilitated," and instead just leave them in prison until they're dead.

Note: I'm all for rehabilitation, but sex offenders don't, and people who commit pre-meditated murder shouldn't be let out either way.

But I need to note Joe, you don't pay $130,000 a year for a prisoner in order to protect a $60,000 car. Likely about a dollar of the taxes from each paycheck goes to keeping prisons running.

I know it's hard for you to understand the concept of nations pooling money for the cause from your other debates, but this is an easy one.

Why not just make them do jobs that average Americans won't do while they are in jail? Illegal immigration solved. :)

The United States would lose millions upon millions more if they take that path. If you give people a gain to commit crimes, more crimes will be committed.