Is the United States any better than countries that torture petty criminals?

We have all read about countries that torture or give unduly harsh penalties for petty criminals. For example in Singapore, people who commit vandalism are caned. Singapore caning is not just a wack across the bottom, but involves severe pain and blood loss. People that go through Singapore caining often pass out from the pain. In Saudi Arabia has been known to cut the hands off of petty thieves. Americans often decry these countries punishments, but are we any better?

A significant number of Americans are incarcerated for drug crimes and other petty offenses. While they are incarcerated, they are subject to heinous forms of abuse. While the abuse may not come at the hands of a government agent, the abuse occurs nevertheless. People incarcerated in US prisons are often beaten, stabbed, and raped by other inmates. Is America any better as a nation if it places people convicted of petty crimes in a prison where they are almost certainly going to be exposed to rape, violence, and other forms of torture?

I think not.