No. It's resocialization. > Norway has one of the lowest recidivism rates in the world at 20%. The U.S. has one of the highest: 76.6% https://harvardpolitics.com/recidivism-american-progress/

And as you probably know, prisons in those two countries are not alike.

Given that the American prison system is performing as badly as it is, even if you ignore any concern for the prisoners, the US system is immoral even purely on the basis of the harm it does to society through the high reoffending rates.

No it shouldn't.

It should be the understanding of a society that no human being is just 'bad'. A human being became 'bad' by a definiton of a society due to circumstances like upbringing, environment etc. and a society which failed you.

Prison is the removal of you from society due to impatibility of current values and should help you become 'better'.

Be happy that you had good/avg parents, the mental strength to help yourself, money, luck, body strength, whatever it was which allowed you to comment on HN instead of being in a prison.

Prisoners are in prison as punishment. Not for punishment.

That is a concept that eludes many.

No, it's social safety quarantine. If you just want to punish someone, there are much cheaper and more effective ways (e.g. caning)

It’s "punishment" if you are broke or not well connected. But otherwise it’s rehab (ie, Ghislaine Maxwell transferred to min security)

Being incarcerated and having very little control over every aspect of your life IS punishment. The violence, sexual violence and extreme conditions are not necessary.