You also have to consider the cost to society locking someone away incurs. You not only remove an able-bodied worker and offload his costs of living to society,

You also have to consider the cost to society locking someone away incurs. You not only remove an able-bodied worker and offload his costs of living to society, you also have to factor in the overhead of maintaining and staffing the necessary facilities. But sadly putting people behind bars is considered a solution in itself in the US, rather than a means to an end.