James,  I really can't speak to who was and wasn't in the 'slammer' with you since I probably wasn't in there with you. I personally believe that most people might deserve a day incarcerated but unless there is a clear and present danger to society they should be out of jail.

For those we deem a potential danger we need to decide what would produce the greatest benefit to society and the person involved.  Education, job skills, employment and counseling should be the priorities. If you look at those incarcerated you will a correlation between poverty, a lack of education, no job or decent job skills and mental illness.

Nothing positive happens inside our institutional correctional facilities and the less time people spend there the better, for them and for society. 

here may be some balancing that needs to be addressed but why not address it in the open instead of behind those cold, dark bars?