This is not a question of about parroted nonsense and cultural norms. I mean what end product do they produce that justifies their existence in the first place.
I'm physically disabled and have been living in a prison like situation for nearly 11 years. How does my situation balance into the ethics of prisons? I'm on a path to homelessness and a premature death due to institutionalized neglect and abuse from US institutions. Criminals are housed and fed in exchange for similar isolation, abuse, danger, insurmountable debt, and a largely unemployable and destitute future. These seem to conflict in ethics.
Wow, so your answer is to... not even attempt anything? Just declare "nope, that's impossible (despite evidence to the contrary) so why bother trying"?
Are you attempting anything? Because bitching about it on the internet isn't far from doing nothing. What have you done in your life to change the US prison system? I'd love to hear it.