AIBU to wonder why we care so much about overcrowding of prisons?

1. Because just because people have committed crimes doesn't mean they automatically deserve to be treated worse than animals. The way a society treats people at the bottom of the social hierarchy is a fairly good barometer of its decency
2. Because treating people worse than animals in prison makes it far more likely they will reoffend when released, thus costing the taxpayer more
3. Because overcrowding tends to lead to poor hygiene, raising the risk of infectious disease, and frustration, raising the risk of violence (both of which pose a public safety hazard and potentially increase the cost to the taxpayer)
4. Because many people who have never committed a crime have to work in prisons (including managing very dangerous people) and it's reasonable that their safety and welfare should be taken into consideration

I could go on but hopefully you get the picture...

They won’t even be on an overcrowded wing, they’ll be in a segregated wing for‘vulnerable’ offenders for their own protection.

overcrowding in normal wings will give rise to extra violence, more time spent locked up and higher rates of self harm and suicide.

Why should we care? Because we live in a civilised society not under a regime of terror.

Better prison conditions, education and treatment are far more likely to result in long term rehabilitation than treating people like they have no worth or hope whatsoever. It’s complicated.

But please carry on with the DM type They Deserve All They Get.

Maybe it negatively affects the prison staff? They deserve a decent work environment. I’m not sure of specifics but overcrowding could mean more infectious disease, more risk of violence and prison buildings failing sooner (mould etc) .

Because we care about the Prison Officers having to work in those over crowded prisons who are dealing with the issues over crowding inevitably causes.