Coming from someone who has been to prison twice and several different county correctional centers, it is more driven by profits. The government profits by having trumped up charges on first time offenders and forcing them to take a plea deal. Private companies overcharge for commissary by large percentages. Also the living conditions are usually very poor and inhumane. The entire prison system has too many moving parts for a radical change to ever be felt. One thing is for sure slavery is alive and well!!!!! So is prison really effective?? Well that depends on what outcome you are looking for. If you are looking for someone to be scared into ever committing crime again than prison can work in some cases but NOT all!!! Rehabilitation is basically impossible with our gang infested prisons. Rehabilitation only works for those who have been incarcerated for a long time and even then most of then revert to their old ways once released. I believe that a good support system and guidance is all anyone will ever need to rehabilitate themselves. And prison is the worst support system there is!!!!!