finding other ways to deal with people like this is a good idea. community service, detox programs anything. the us has thousands of people in jail basically because they are addicted.
throwing someone in jail who has very few options for leading a decent life takes away even more options. minor offenders many times can actually be "rehabilitated" if they are given help repeat offenders and people who steal because they dont want to do anything else many times will return to crime after their sentence.
