How can a Person Live a Better Life After Living a Life of Crime?

Hi getbrowser, It is never too late for forgiveness, but often these with a criminal past have trouble finding work, and then it becomes difficult to prove that they really have changed. Does you friend find it difficult to forgive himself, or is he having problems with others? Many people have turned their lives around but for most it has not been easy. I wish your friend well. Blessings.

Misunderstand about these person living a life of crime before,it's wrong and unfair appraise a person only by what he had done.we are young and everyone can't avoid make mistake,forgive and help.don't make their life more harder.

Past is past. You cannot turn the leaf back. When a person has repented for his bad actions sincerely, he can live a normal life by doing as many good things as possible and spend his time in God's service praying for forgiveness. In a spiritual class, they told us that a killer, after completion of his sentence, is leading a spiritual life like this by being in an ashram (where spiritual activities conducted) and people are attending bhajans (singing songs on God) there though they know that he was a killer before.

They really have to be able to forgive themselves for what they have done. If they do that then they would have the strength to move on and start a new life. If they aren't able to then it would be very difficult.

This is going to sound weird but consider this..who would you most likely to have around? A murderer or a thief? Who is most likely to strike again? I think that it is never to late but I think there are some crimes that are a little to much for me as a person to forgive. It really boils down to the criminal and what they are willing to do to turn their life around. It's not to late to make their life a good life but it may be more than I can stand as a person to have them around me or mine.

I'll always believe that the door of forgiveness never been closed to those who had been sent to prison.In Chinese,it's saying that men at their birht are naturally good.The people who never been to prison are enough kind to accept this people with criminal record,the people who have been to prison are enough kind to make themselves are accepted.Though it's really a long way to succeed.

People that know nothing but a life of crime need support and people that not only believe in them but can give them a place to stay and encouragement. Your friend has developed a conscience and he needs to be instructed with love on how to live a life that contributes to the world. He probably also needs to learn how to love. If someone has paid for their crime, they deserve every possible chance to start a new life. They can't often do this by themselves. Be there anytime your friend needs someone to talk to, advise him on any problems and try to help him adjust to a decent life. Good luck to him. I will say a prayer for him tonight.

The only way he can turn hid life around around is by hard work,and he is going to have work harder than the most,because we all have to pay for our mistakes.

If someone really wants to change then he should be allowed to do so.He will have to work harder than most.Maybe a change of location,somewhere new.I think he will have to be fairly honest about what he has done,as the past has a nasty way of catching up with you and could end up in a worse mess.Good luck to your friend I hope things work out well for him.

I have known a lot of ex-convict who live a better life after being set free from prison.Although, it would be very hard to apply for a decent jobs even though they even finish their degree while still in prison. They already have bad records which a lot of people could easily judged them basing form their own past. Thus, it would even hard to be employed such as the cases of your friend,he had committed a high degree of crimes of murder. Thus, the company whom he applying may feel wary of his background or even becomes suspicious of him even though he already changes. Thus the marks of being a prison could not easily vanish. Thus, some do not seek to be employed and find other opportunity as being k self employed by putting their own business away from the scrutiny of the public.

If a person has a criminal past then before becoming friends with others he should share what has happened and tell that he has really changed and he shouldn't hide anything. Its hard for normal people to have faith on someone who has once committed a crime as they always have a possibility to commit another one. No matter how much they say they have changed there is always the bad side in them that might come out once again. There are also people who really change completely and leave their criminal past behind but these people are very hard to come around. you are lucky to have a good friend who is one of these people.

Any time anyone has been in jail it is hard for them to make a good life because they aren't starting out, they are trying to regain trust of a community. It is possible that your friend can change his life, if he has changed. I knew a man, and it was even harder for him because he was black in a mostly white area, that changed his life. Once he got out of prison he started his own business. He made a car wash and limo service. The limo service took off and he even started hiring people once they came out of jail. He was robbed several times, but he warned the guys he would turn them back in. Last I heard he had branched out with two locations. The second example is of a girl who stole money and forged checks. She couldn't tell the truth if she had to. She stole her grandmothers checks, stole blank checks from her parents and wrote out high dollar amounts. When she got out of jail she did it again. Her mother covered the check so she wouldn't go back in. The girl got a job in a daycare. DAYCARE. God only knows how. It did her a world of good though. She goes to church, and participates in her church. She also works hard. She is in classes now to become a teacher. Who would have thought she would have changed? So the point is, yeah your friend may have to work a little harder. He committed a crime and he is below the point of just starting out. The best place for him to start is his parole officer. Usually, the parole officer can give him some ideas if he doesn't already have some.

Hi there. I also have friends who've been imprisoned or jailed, but not for the most violent crimes, such as killing or child abuse, rape, etc. I DO believe the door of forgiveness is always open, and yet, some have to face that, while the most violent of acts can be forgiven, trust is far harder to regain once violated...especially for the mosts dangerous of crimes one has committed. That, you must admit, is understandable. It takes time. If I were this friend, I would try to re-earn trust, perhaps by going to a job counseling center for advice and help as to how and where he could re-enter the work world. It's hard to predict what will happen, since I do not know the facts of his crime, whether the killing was accidental, intentional, etc. Again, he probably needs professional guidance as to how to go about "living" free and working, as a criminal record search or thorough background search are routinely run by prospective employers. I have to admit, part of me understands one side as well as the other. All the best intentions for the present and future still cannot erase the past. Only time and behavior can help do that. Karen

As mature people we can always give them the chance to be good. Let's create a caring and supportive environment to let ex-con feel that we believe in their inherent worth and kindness. That support will give them strength and inspiration never to be involved in any crimes. Ex-con can be an advocate for having a new life after imprisonment. Let's be ready to be a friend to them, a partner in their journey for a better life!

As a Zen practitioner I believe that everybody will eventually come to the point of living a better and more fulfilling life. If people are introduced to a way of living that sees desire as the cause of suffering, as the Buddha said, then there would be no need for crime. If we are masters of our desiring minds through meditation practices, we will naturally develop a compassion, and not need to have society's rules and regulations forced upon us. I think though that we have a long way to go yet... Or talking about such "distance" an illusion? - Derek

First I think your friend needs to define what is a "better life"; due to the subjectivity of that concept. Also, has he come to terms with what he has done and absolve any unfinished ties to his previous lifestyle. Until he does that, he mentally and emotionally will be troubled to take his next steps of actually living a "better life". Think of the old cliche: you can take the tiger out of the jungle, but you can't take the jungle out the tiger.

I firmly believe that people can turn away from their past and focus on their future. It's really tough living in our society with a record such as your friends mostly because getting a job these days is very hard if one has a record, even for minor offenses. With the unemployment rate so high, companies are doing more and more background and credit checks to weed out their potential candidates. I have the same problem. But your question was is it too late to try his best to change the current life. You say that he really plans to work harder than most to enjoy a better life again; however, you know that your friend has difficulty changing. I don't go to church anymore and often have conflicting feelings regarding a Heavenly Father that loves and cares for us and will forgive all our sins. So my answer has to be that if your friend is really determined and seeking out forgiveness from the devine would bring him hope, then it's entirely possible that he could turn his life around and live a better life. Doing so would bring some peace to his troubled heart...he will have to live with his actions for the rest of his life.