It is actually cheaper for society to rehab those prisoners who can be helped. Last study I saw estimated $35,000 annually. Why does America imprison 2.5% of it citizens? The highest level of any westernized democracy. This represents a tremendous drain on our society and I am sure slows our growth and GDP. This current administration is going bananas building and outsourcing all the new prisoners they expect for "illegal" immigrants, increase war on drugs, and mass incarceration of black and brown skin folks...