Madoff has a guarantee of a place to sleep that's out of the weather, and adequate regular meals, for life.

Many of his victims don't. (Unless they move to a part of the country where you can afford those things on Social Security - which is not New York City or Florida, and they probably can't imagine surviving anywhere else.)

I'm not sure prison is the right place for people who commit pure property crimes. But I'm not sure what is. Galley slave would be good, but we don't use them anymore.

Peter