I shouldn't do this, but I'm going to post something about someone else's post. I did it last time, and I guess I'll do it again to Emily's post. go read her post first, and then come back.

On the surface, it seems like anything outside of rotting in a solitary cell is unjust to the victims' family. I admit, on the onset, it seems fair to me that inmates should lead as miserable a life as is possible to live. But as I think about it and see more about prison rehabilitation programs, I renege. Prisons shouldn't be operated with a mission to make life as miserable as possible. How can you maintain order in a place where thousands of people are madder than anything about their situation. Imagine locking someone in a cell 23 hours a day; what are they going to think about all day? How much they like the peas at lunch? No way, they're going to think and become filled with more rage than they previously had. All the while making prisons harder to control and making prison guards miserable. There's got to be a better way than just locking someone up and throwing away the key.
I once saw a documentary about an alternative prison in California. This particular prison was run on the principle of rehabilitation, not just solely incarceration. There were arts, sports, and a foundation built upon education. Before you think it, these people weren't just petty convicts, they were murderers and rapists and burglars. I wish I could remember more about this documentary, but I remember being astonished at how well behaved the inmates were and how confident the employees were with their safety. There was 60 year-old ladies making pottery and working in the library surrounded by 6-10 inmates. I speak of this documentary, because it really opened my eyes up to a different way to do things.
Bringing us back to the topic at hand, inmates are people. I know that's cheesy and tacky sounding, but it's true. Anything we can do as a legal system to help them overcome their problems and live a better life shouldn't be such an issue. It'd be different if they saw proceeds from their music, or if they were let out to go on tour. These people are simply using music as an outlet for their problems and improving their quality of life. They are still in prison, a place I'm sure no one would want to be music or not. I think our justice system and penal system would be drastically different if it were more geared to rehabilitation and not just incarceration. I know there are some people who just need to sit by themselves all day, but on the majority, I think most inmates could be rehabilitated.
also: check out her comments for more from me, i just couldn't stop writing