I think we are in agreement on a few points. Sure, career criminals aren't going to be rehabilitated - but there are criminals who have been succesfully reintroduced to society, with no ill effects. I look at it much in the same way of our school system - too many students per class make it much more difficult to teach anyone anything. Increase the amount of teachers, make the classes smaller, and the entire system improves. Is our education system deeply flawed? Sure, but every little bit helps.
Good point. In both cases though, changing the system that way will only be more productive if there is a willingness in the student/criminal to change. So the system is only as effective as the person it is trying to work with.

I I ever go to alaska I'll buy you a beer 
I have gun
. Nothing to argue.