急：08,6月六级听力句子翻译：coming under the _influence_ of hardened criminals
今天碰到了一个句子不懂意思,请高手帮忙啊,谢谢!
08年6月六级听里第三部分里有个句子是：
One thing I'm concerned about is our practice of putting _offenders_ in jail who haven't harmed anyone. Why not work out some system _whereby_ they can pay back the debts they owe society instead of _incurring_ another debt by going to prison, and of course, coming under the _influence_ of hardened criminals?
主要是：and of course, coming under the _influence_ of hardened criminals?这个句子,一点也不懂,请大家帮忙啊,再次谢谢!