Jail System - Rehabilitation or Breeding Ground for Criminals?

In an overcrowded, overworked jail system I pose the question is jail rehabilitating criminals or simply allowing them to brood?

I surveyed 76 women I was incarcerated with and here are my results: 73 were probation violators of otherwise repeat offenders, 56 had committed more than 5 crimes, 4 were charged with murder, 48 charged with drug related crimes and 21 were charged with prostitution.

These women are locked up together and allowed to discuss victories as well as defeats. Their crimes are common knowledge and widely discussed throughout the pod. They are allowed to discuss strategies tactics and how to better commit crimes. The only people that are offered help in changing are the drug addicts as they make up the largest crime base here.

Many of the women who are in the jail, upon their release will commit another crime. Those crimes will undoubtedly land them right back in the jails. It is an endless circle of crime and punishment. Where in this never-ending circle is the jail system reforming these people? There is no system for change. Change has to start from within and I don't deny that. These women turn back to crime because there is no legitimate way for many of them to live. A criminal record makes is near impossible to find a good job and closes the door to many housing opportunities. With nowhere left to turn they turn back to the crimes that led them to jail in the first place.