We need to build more big prisons to house these criminals, not bowing to their predilections. While I can understand that an ex-con may have turned himself around, he or she needs to regain the trust of society. Most of these criminals are recidivists (they violate the law repeatedly, without shame) and really should be locked up for much longer than many are sentenced to today.
The only person in America who is serving a sentence which is ridiculous is a Jew, named Jonathan Pollard. I guess if you are black or latino you are given a free pass to rob, rape, murder whoever you like. You even get invited to a 'think tank'.... NY and this country is going down the road to destruction.