Question Re Bank Bailout

Okay, time goes by, and the country is still struggling to recover, and as review of the bank bailout continues, I have a question. I understand that it could have been disastrous (could have been--who knows if it would have been?) to fire all the experienced top people in the biz, but what would have been wrong with putting them on probation? Maybe for the remainder of their working lives but at least for 5-10 years? Instead of giving them bonuses, at taxpayer expense, rewarding them for lining their pockets while losing investors' money. Anyone have an explanation?