The options are in fact that either these financial burdens are paid either by the families of incarcerated people, or the taxpayer. I vote for the taxpayer. We have this system of putting people in prison for our own safety -- the least we can do if we incarcerate people is to pick up the costs of our own justice system.

Ruining the financial lives of their families and of their children isn't the path I favor, personally. We want this justice system we can pay for it.