Comment by shakna

Recidivism in the USA is higher than almost every other nation [0], at about 65-70%.

You're absolutely right that they don't stop, the first time, in the US. However, the cause of that same recidivism, is overwhelmingly correlated to a lack of support on leaving. Rehabilitation is in the name - habeo, to have or possess.

Why do people reoffend? Because currently, they're fucked. Background checks in everything, screw them over. They can't get work, they can't rent, and so, when all other options are off the table, is it actually a surprise, that they reoffend?

It'd be a hell of a lot cheaper, not to lock them up, and not expose a first-time offender to a black hole where everyone says the world would be better off with them dead.

See for example, Norway, with the lowest recidivism rate in the world [1], where it actually is true, that most do not reoffend.

[0] https://bjs.ojp.gov/topics/recidivism-and-reentry

[1] https://digitalcommons.coastal.edu/bridges/vol10/iss10/2/