The problem with prison crowding in the US is one almost everyone is aware of. Not only is the penal system glutted now but, high rates of juvenile crime, the prosecution of victimless crimes and the casual attitude many offenders have regarding sex (more specifically, reproducing) excacerbate the problem or cause other societal ills. Single mothers, sometimes of multiple children, who are content to collect welfare rather than work; and children who grow up with no male role-models, or worse.
We’ve all heard about the “cycle of poverty”; I think this is a good way to break that cycle by not saddling the subjects with unwanted children. They probably don’t care about that aspect or the harm done society by the prevalence of fatherless children but, that’s not important. The motivation to be sterilized may be just to get out on the street sooner to score more smack, crack or whatever but, they won’t be producing methadone babies when they do. Besides, this would curb growth of the population in the sectors it most needs control.
Note; I would never condone this for violent offenders and this would be a totally voluntary program. “Sure, you can stay in an extra 10 months if you WANT. But, don’t blame us about haveing to pay child support, later.”