> and should taxpayers be paying to give violent criminals a work-free existence This is exactly the problem. Recidivism is high because society doesn't give

> and should taxpayers be paying to give violent criminals a work-free existence This is exactly the problem. Recidivism is high because society doesn't give released prisoners any way to support themselves. Giving ex-cons a lifeline as soon as they get out would go a long way toward keeping them from ending up back in prison. So yes. Taxpayers should give ex-cons (even violent ones) a way to support themselves without resorting to crime again. And we shouldn't release prisoners if they're still a danger, which means we should focus on rehabilitation instead of just punishment.