I really wish people would look at jobs programs, education programs, mental health care and similar public welfare efforts as an investment in making society better. We are all better off in the long term with less crime and unemployment.<p>Every person committing crimes and going to prison, or unemployed or employed in criminal activity is a person who could be not only doing less harm through crime to their community, but also, with proper support, meaningfully contributing to GDP.<p>The real important thing here is the ease at which a significant impact can be made to change people's behavior towards the better with a minimal (literally minimum wage) investment. Criminality is not an inherent trait, at least not for the majority of individuals. It's a product of environmental factors. And the effect increased after the work was over.<p>The potential increase in property values from reduced crime alone are interesting.