or should the focus be on giving life skills to the convicts so perhaps they have a chance to do something "real" once they are released?

That's my answer. I believe a great majority of prisoners become criminals inside the prison and do even worse things once they are out. I understand they have to be punished for what they did but I believe also that they have to be thought how to behave in real (not criminal) life. They need to learn skills to be able to be integrated into society so they can live a "normal" life.