IMHO there is a need for 'the system'. It can support and protect the population as a whole.

Part of the purpose of prisons should be to protect society as a whole from the wrongdoer, whatever the motive is for the crime. Whilst there may be good reasons for their behaviour it is still the case that they will have caused harm to others in whatever way and putting them in prison prevents their reoffending for a period of time. If there is any chance of rehabilitation whilst they are incarcerated so much the better.

I wonder what your critics would like to do with violent criminals rather than put them in prison? Would they still feel the same if it were they or those they know who were victims of crime? Having worked with victims of crime I know how they can be affected by someone else's wrongdoing. Where do they come into the equation, or are they forgotten in favour of the 'poor criminal'?

I do believe that the vast majority of law abiding people do deserve the protection of the law. This, to me, should be a higher priority than the rights of lawbreakers not to be imprisoned. In a perfect world the conditions that can lead to a person becoming a criminal would not exist. This is not a perfect world and we have to make certain decisions for the benefit of the majority. In those circumstances I have nothing but admiration for those who take on the difficult job of staffing prisons - not a job that I would ever want to do.