Sentenced to life in prison without parole...

The trial of Michael Anderson, age 20, just ended and he was found guilty of premeditated murder in the death of Katherine Olson, age 24. Michael killed Katherine when she answered an ad Anderson had placed in Craig's List for a baby sitter. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
A friend of mine posted a message on Facebook saying, "justice had been served." I replied, "it may be 'justice' but is it helpful?" Every time I hear a verdict that includes "life without parole" something in me dies.
Michael is 20 years old. He could be in prison until he's 90. What good will that do anyone? Taxpayers three generations from now may be paying the bill for his incarceration. Is there no possibility of restoration, reform or redemption? Is retributive justice all we can do? Our prisons are filled with old people, primarily men, who'd be more appropriately living in a nursing home. Just the health care for these old prisoners is a major cost to tax payers.
When I was doing my practice teaching at the high school in the South Dakota State Penitentiary a young man showed me his misshapen fingers. His father had broken them and he didn't get proper medical care. Most criminals come from a brutal past both physical and psychological. Increasingly our societal response is further brutalization.
Life without parole assumes that future decision makers are incapable of making wise choices. Parole boards hands are tied even when it is clear to everyone that a prisoner is no threat and could be released.
Punish, punish, punish...and where has it gotten us? Prisons are overflowing and every expert in criminology will say there is little deterrent effect. In fact prisons are noted for hardening prisoners and making them less fit for society.
If we want to reduce crime we need more rehabilitation and especially drug and alcohol treatment. In addition we need to focus on the conditions that breed criminals. Let's end this inhumane 'life without parole'.