I am now talking all the thoughts from a club at school / debates and posting them here. So here is the topic: what is the primary purpose of prison? Is it simply to punish those who have done wrong? Is it done to protect the community? Is it done simply to take the "bad-guys" off the community? Etc.

To me isolation seems like a primary reason.

Keeping bad people off the streets for the actions the commited, Like murder, GTA, and others. I think it's there to think about what they have done.

This, also it is a business, and a very effective social control.

Whoever said "Rehabilitation", no. The government says that punishment comes before rehabilitation, except in juvenile cases.

It does. But it's not the purpose of it. At least says the government.

I'm sorry, but this thread sucks.
It's not like there is much disagreement on what the purpose of prison is....
Here's the answer: isolation, rehabilitation and (for the victims) feeling of retribution. Voila!
What is a primary purpose of a fork? Obviously it's to stab people.

PS: pm me if you have something epic to add to what's been said.