Do you think the prison system is based more on revenge or reformation?

When we send someone to prison, are we looking to turn them into a productive member of society, or are we looking hurt them the way they hurt someone else?
When we send some one to prison we are interested in getting a person who will not respect the rules of society out of mainstream society.

If they are reformed by prison or whatever, that is a bonus.
Hello, crime = punishment. DuH!
neither.
we are looking to separate them from the rest of the world.
Revenge obviously, most criminals come out of prison with better skillset for crime then they went in with
When we send someone to prison, it's not because we want to hurt them, as you put it. They did the crime now they need to do the time. While in prison, inmates can get their GED, work in various areas of the prison. In the library, there are computers & books galore for the inmates to use to get educated if they so desire. For those inmates who will be going home some day, they can make the most out of their time, if they have the desire. The staff at a prison can only do so much to help turn the inmates intp productive citizens someday, if that's what they intend to do with their lives when they get out.
Punishment, and to keep them out of society. Hopefully the punishment will be a deterrent... but Rehab? ... they can pay for that themselves... just want them out of the way of decent people.
We're punishing AND protecting society. Unless you're from Vermont. Then we try to rehabilitate you, put you on probation, and wait for you to assault society again.
It's punishment. It's also getting the criminal away from more potential victims.


Answers:
I don't think you can turn many people into productive members of society that is a decision that they must make on their own. There is no magic social program that will make people better, they have to do it themselves. Prison is more likely for the security of the community and not about the prisoner so much.
yes this society has become very vengeful. not to worry about whats made somebody do what they did and trying to fix the problem. it is all about payback. I dont agreee at all.
both. it's a punishment. but that isn't hurting them the way they hurt someone else, because you aren't commiting the same crime they did against them.
it's rehabilitation as well.

and it depends on the location of the prison and what crime they committed.
some people are on death row, which surely must be different. i mean they aren't being rehabilitated to go out to work. they're waiting to die.

a lot of people are reformed in prison. not everyone of course. but that must be part of being in prison, because they will be released.
Neither.. The prisons are overloaded and the system is misused.. Prisons should ONLY be for VIOLENT crimes and thats it.. If you want to reform you need to have a better solution then prison.
Prisons today are so overcrouded with people that have never been a threat to society, just an insult to society. Someone steals something (yes very wrong) and get tossed in prison and continues to steal our tax dollars.. Sad but true.