Yes, to protect us from the likes of Martha Stewart, Tommy Chong, Judith Miller and Robert Downey jr, to name a few. Not to downplay the importance of removing violent criminals from society but come on, of coarse incarceration is a PUNISHMENT. It's a loss of freedoms and privileges. What are sentencing guidelines for if not to match, using the principle of proportionality, the PUNISHMENT (length and type of term) to the crime. Criminal PUNISHMENT may also take the form of fines, public service, probation and the yes, even the death penalty. Henceforth called Capital PUNISHMENT as some in the forum have confused it with revenge.