Two brief points:

First, I would like to point out something; this issue may or may not have been raised previously in this thread. That is the issue of accurate DNA testing. Many people have been exonerated of horrible crimes (particularly murder) that they didn't commit, now that this method to prove their innocence exists. Admittedly, there may be situations where DNA testing is not applicable, but this has led to the release of many people who were wrongly convicted. For those people who would take every right from the violent criminal, at least bear in mind that some of them may not be violent criminals after all.

Secondly, although a punitive measure is involved, the primary goal of incarceration should be rehabilitation. When someone commits a crime, that's a terrible thing. However, if no effort is made to reform the individual, then the problem is only compounded. Although the application of such an ideal may be difficult in many real world situations, to abandon it utterly (which many here would seem to rush to do) is a scar upon all of us.