Would a prison dichotomy be a good idea? That is, the reformable criminals go to rehabilitation, and the ones for which there is no hope go in for life (or at least until old age)?
FWIW this has changed. Ever since prop 36, the third strike needs to be a serious violent crime.
The idea is that you keep your job and ability to pay rent, but you still do time. If you fail to appear or do something stupid, you serve the whole term in jail.
She said it was about 50-50. The people who behaved could do their entire term without even losing their job. Unfortunately, plenty of people didn't even show up for their first Friday, and then they'd be utterly outraged that they had to spend all of the next three months in jail. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.