Here's an interesting quote from Pat Nolan, former California Assemblyman who subsequently served 26 months in prison for racketeering and 13 other charges, who is now an advocate for prison reform. Currently in California, 70% of inmates are re-arrested within three years of release

"If hospitals were failing to heal two out of three patients, would we continue to pour money into them? Of course not. So shame on those who defend the status quo."