"That is why Madoff ended his life in jail" That's an interesting point and probably true. The identity of your victim matters as much as the crime. It isn't

"That is why Madoff ended his life in jail" That's an interesting point and probably true. The identity of your victim matters as much as the crime. It isn't like a serial car thief would receive the same sentence. I've always wondered if jail was appropriate for purely financial crimes. Maybe simply pauperizing people is the right answer and keep them pauperized from some time. Just imagine a prison system that doesn't contain financial criminals or drug cases. Transfer a certain amount of punishment to Singapore-style caning (probably a better mind-modifier than 6 months in the county clink) and you could shrink the whole industry to a tiny fraction of it's current size.