Why even bother with books and solitary. Just flash freeze them like in Demolition Man. The prison system doesn't stimulate anyone. Crimes are primarily committed because of motive, opportunity, and/or mental illness. Poverty is a great motivator. If you're an ex-convict your opportunity to get a respectable job drops precipitously, to be a drug dealer requires no prior experience and no background check.
I'm not concerned about the prison system. They are the means to the end. What does bother me is the US justice system. They convict more people than any other country on the planet. Prison can't be a deterrent if you have overzealous prosecutors searching for me people to convict.
Poverty is an overwhelming contributing factor to crime and thus prisons. So, while my views are mainly focused on the US justice system in what other countries does this not apply?
I'm not concerned about the prison system. They are the means to the end. What does bother me is the US justice system. They convict more people than any other country on the planet. Prison can't be a deterrent if you have overzealous prosecutors searching for me people to convict.