Our system fills every bed before it is built. Supply and demand have never had a better relationship. We need to refocus our public policy upon a correctional system that heals itself by helping those it serves to heal themselves through service to others even less fortunate. Let us term this new paradigm a "Correctional Cooperative," where mentally ill and substance abusers receive treatment while they work the floors of a detox unit, where the stabilized mentally ill become "buddy watchers" for those on suicide watch. Instead of warehousing offenders let us require their time to be productive, healing others while they heal themselves.