If life for inmates was pretty much the same whether they were inside or outside of prison, I don't know why anyone would bother trying to avoid serving time.
I agree that prisons are worse elsewhere, but to imply this is a good thing is to diminish ourselves as a society. The quality of a society is measured not only in how the majority live, but also how the minority live. We are supposed to pride ourselves in valuing human life, unlike third world countries. People in prison are supposed to lose their freedom, which they do. I have no need for people to be treated inhumanely in addition to this.
