Well there can still be rehabilitation with captivity. The US system just doesn’t prioritize that. We prefer punishment, even though outcomes are worse for everyone.

Agreed. There are things like GED and college programs, but they can have long waiting lists. Makes it a bit ironic if you have to commit a crime bad enough to get a multi-year sentence to get into an education program in prison. There more to rehabilitation though, and exclusion from a vast number of jobs after getting out of jail doesn't really help the rehab process.

inmates have found that is pretty hard to commit the same crimes that put them in jail while they are behind the bars.

It should count for anything.

Until they get out, have no life skills and no prospects because they have been excluded from society then re-offend and the cycle continues.