The planetary penal colony?

Question

Now with space travel becoming commonplace, do you forsee a time when they can have a penal colony on a neighboring planet? Like Australia?

Answer 1

Only if space travel gets a lot cheaper and a lot more commonplace.

The odds are looking a bit long for that at the moment.  But never say die.  

Answer 2

You're exaggerating commonplace, but no. It would be prohibitively expensive. It's too expensive to house them now.

Answer 3

A penal colony in space would probably only be used for crimes committed in space, when there are police and courts off planet.

Answer 4

I doubt it.  By the time that would be cost effective you would think there would be a better form of punishment/reform!