You wrote:

However, there isn't the proper care for counselling and follow-up and most commit acts of rape or violence again.

There are some big gray areas with rape, so let's set that aside for the moment.

I think we need to make punishment for violent acts pretty severe,but in truth, our prisons are filled up with mostly petty drug-law offenders. IIRC, the U.S. now has more of its population behind bars than any other country. To rememdy that, and to free up space for the truly dangerous criminals, I think we need to end drug prohibition. It doesn't work, it promotes horrific violence, and it encourages the early release of violent offenders who frequently do the same dirty deed all over again once outside, as you note.

Prisons have the unintended role of classrooms for the culture of criminality. We should reserve our prisons for the truly dangerous criminal element: lock 'em up, and throw away the key.

Unfortunately, there is a growing industry dependent on a large and growing prison population. No matter where you look, it seems there are vested interests, and so the question should always be: Cui Bono? Who profits? As they say, follow the money.

Murderers should be incarcerated with no chance of parole, ever. In cases where the innocent have been wrongly or mistakenly convicted, at least there is an opportunity to rectify the error. If a conviction is overturned, then there should be some method of restitution for the innocent prisoner who has spent perhaps years behind bars.

Maybe we could make them movie stars, or have a television series: Hard Time Heroes

Seriously though, and as one suggestion, perhaps ongoing psychological examination of incarcerated murderers might help unlock the secret to their violent impulses, and thereby offer clues to breaking the cycle of violence which now grips our society.

For what it's worth...

S