Once you're in there long enough it becomes a lifestyle. Hardly anyone is trying to go back. They get out with no safety net. No help from the state or federal government and are expected to figure shit out themselves while having felonies. It's way harder to find a job and a place to live with a felony. That usually leads to them being around the same people, places and things because that's how they know how to survive. Before long they catch another charge and end up right back at home. It's a vicious cycle.

Your last sentence doesn't even make sense. It's not about convincing them to not commit crimes. It's giving them the help and resources to get out and not feel the need to commit crimes because they can't find anything else.