Most of the time prison sentences are not over when the prison gates are opened! Most prisoners are freed into a world with no where to go and end up back in the same predicament. The united States is one of the top leading countries for most prisoners and yet to give prisoners life skills or practices for what to expect after prison. I feel prisoners should be offered 
• In-prison education and vocational training to help gain skills needed to function in society, and after helped secure a job or schooling
• Substance abuse treatment inside and outside of prison for mental support
• Transitional housing to give ex-prisoners structured living environments as they re- enter society.
• Financial assistance to help offenders to arrange for basic necessities such as food and clothing. 
Would you expect a zoo animal to be nice or even prepared for whats coming when released into the wild? Well we cant lock up a human like a zoo animal and expect them to know how to act when released into the the world either!