We need a thorough overhaul of our entire law enforcement, criminal justice and correctional services systems. At the moment most of the links in the chain are broken. I think the "community service" proposal is just a band-aid on a septic wound, and the debate about which type of prisoners should go to correctional service is arguing about the colour of the band-aid. (Not that I disagree with you)

Much of the root cause of crime comes from a dysfunctional economy and education system anyway. So even overhauling the criminal justice system is just a slightly larger band-aid. People need real opportunities and the skills to take advantage of them. If we achieve that, we'll cut crime significantly.