by Melissa Washington

Created on: August 18, 2010

Before we can discuss whether or not criminals can be reformed we need to make distinctions between different types of criminals. A pedophile with deep psychological issues cannot be put in the same category as a low level drug dealer who sells drugs due to lack of economic opportunities or like a recent case where a man was freed from jail after 13 years. His crime? Breaking into a church to steal food because he was hungry.

Some criminals have serious psychological issues that cannot be cured no matter what type of therapy is used. Violent rapists, pedophiles, and serial killers are in this category and they may commit crimes until they die if not locked up. A 90-year-old man was recent arrested for child molestation and this is proof that this behavior doesn’t subside with age. But, other types of criminals can be reformed if you can get the root of what caused them to commit the crime in the first place.

A woman who kills her husband after years of repeated abuse is only responding to the trauma she has suffered for so many years and would not have committed murder under any other circumstances. After serving time and receiving counseling, it is not likely that this type of criminal would be a repeat offender.

A young man who sells drugs because he lives in poverty and is unable to get a job due to his lack of skills and experience could easily become a tax paying, law abiding citizen if given an education and/or on-the-job training.

A person who steals money to feed his/her drug addiction will no longer commit theft if they are given drug treatment and become clean.

All people make mistakes in life and they deserve a chance to redeem themselves. Crimes are committed because of the ills of our society and locking people in jail indefinitely does nothing to fix the problems that caused the people to turn to crime in the first place, such as poverty, abuse, and lack of education.

For those who favor the “lock ‘em up and throw away the key” mentality, ask yourself, what if your mother, brother, best friend, or lover was locked up for a minor offense. Would you believe that the person you know and love could never be rehabilitated-ever?

Criminals need to be looked at individually and not lumped together as bad people. The majority of people probably could be reformed if only they were given the chance.

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