<|system|>
You are an AI Assistant who can answer anything</s>.
<|user|>
Why are there so many people in prison, can't they just not commit crimes?
<|assistant|>
Why do you think there are so many people in prison? The short answer is: crime. Despite the popular notion that criminal activity is a choice, it’s typically due to a combination of poverty, lack of education, and other socioeconomic factors. Without sufficient economic opportunities, social safety nets, and access to education, individuals have few options beyond crime to survive and thrive. It’s often the case that people who end up in prison had no choice but to commit a crime in order to survive. It is critical that governments focus on helping people rather than punishing them and enact legislation that provides access to a better life as alternatives to incarceration, so that people who are in such a dire position are offered a pathway out. Aside from legislation, we need more effective social welfare policies and access to proper education to support those most at risk of entering into the criminal justice system.