Plans to get repeat offenders off the "carousel of crime" have been announced by shadow home secretary David Davis.
At the Conservative conference, Mr Davis said half of all crime was committed by ex-convicts.
To break this offenders in prison must be given basic education and help to get off drugs.
On release, they must be assisted in finding a job, getting a home and keeping clear of drugs and drink to stop them returning to crime.
"We've got to find a way to end the carousel of crime," he said.
"Offenders commit an offence, get locked up, get released and then go straight out and commit another offence.
"Round and round they go, leaving a trail of victims in their wake. The only way to stop this absurd carousel ... is to stop criminals being criminals."
Mr Davis insisted his plans would make prison tougher and help ex-prisoners from "falling between the cracks of state failure".
He also pledged to bring immigration "back under control", saying Labour's failure to do so had let in hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants, including some dangerous foreign criminals.
