When people commit crimes, we send them away from their families and communities to become better by locking them in cells.

That idea really starts to fall apart when you consider the number of people who abuse drugs, people with mental illness, and people of color in the prison system.

Sometimes society's most egregious myths are right in front of our faces.

Thankfully, as a society, starting to take a second look at the parts of our criminal justice system, especially prisons, that might not be working well.

Myth 1: Higher incarceration rates cause corresponding decreases in crime

A study by The Sentencing Project found that simply putting more people in prison isn't an effective strategy for fighting crime.

Myth 2: Downsizing prisons makes surrounding communities unsafe.

Truth: Research proves otherwise; just look at California.

Myth 3: Prisons make communities safer by reforming criminals.

Truth:Recidivism rates (people returning to prisons) are high in the U.S., in part because prison doesn't prepare people for life after their sentences.

Myth 4: Even if prison isn't an ideal solution, it's the only solution we have to deal with crime.

These other alternatives help prevent crime and are actually cheaper than prison, including drug courts, halfway houses, and  restorative justice programs.

Myth 5: Alternatives to prison aren't worth the money.

A prison sentence doesn't just affect the prisoner. Incarceration can be devastating for a whole family, both emotionally and financially. And the emotional strain prison puts on the children of incarcerated individuals cause significant developmental delays as well.

To read Natalie San Luis' entire article, please click here.