There is no doubt that the whole system is a mess, and that there are no simple solutions. But, as when points out, costs could be greatly reduced by using reparative justice with "intensive" police and probation supervision.
Violence against the person has to lead to imprisonment, of course. But take, for example, acquisitive theft - to fuel a drug habit, perhaps. Decriminalisation of certain drugs might reduce that type of theft.
There are hardened criminals, to be sure, as anyone involved in the prison service can tell us. But they way things work, we are probably breeding more of them!
And then - money and the will to change - from where will that come?
Our Welfare State. Is it broken?
NHS U turn on trans terminology
Forgetting where you left your keys does not mean you are “losing it”