The whole system needs a good kick in the arse IMHO.
The system needs to be able to retrain and support criminals so they have no need to re-offend when they leave the clink (you didn’t expect me to say that did you?). Help, support, rehab, training and a job if necessary.
In return the criminal would understand with no ambiguity whatsoever that if he were re-convicted they’d throw the key away.
The problem these days is that there is no help for criminals or incentive not to re-offend.