Fines and punishment

There are several reasons why it makes no sense to imprison offenders to whom the sanction of incarceration has been applied for defaulting on a fine for a relatively minor offence. In about half of such cases, the cost of imprisonment significantly outweighs the value of the unpaid fine. Offenders pick up more bad habits in prison, so the punishment can be counterproductive. Defaulters add to the pressure on space and contribute to overcrowding, which can squeeze out rehabilitation programmes.