[RantyDave]

Potential criminals may be terrified, but that's because they're thinking straight. Some stupid kid about to commit the crime that sends him to prison and ruins his entire life, is thinking about $200 for some more meth. As a deterrent, it just doesn't work.

[saiya-jin]

Well, maybe it works, but nobody hears about crimes that were not done because people were scared of the consequences.

Just to be clear - I ma not a fan of how democracy like US manages their prisons, prisoners, and folks after prison - yes its kind of a death sentence for any serious job, it doesn't matter much if you would be a stellar citizen and employee afterwards for rest of your life. Clearly pure punishment and no correction, 3rd world medieval style. But that's another topic.

Kids that do stupid things for meth should get a) treatment for addiction and b) be removed from society until deemed worthy of coming back. In some place, like, dunno, lighter prison err correction facility (depending on the crime committed)