Is It Really That Bad?

[jasJis]

Mrs. Bro. Adam,

I work in construction and I come in contact with criminals every day. I have hired murderers, rapists, molestors, wife beaters, burgulars, armed robbers, etc. Some of them I knew their crimes when I hired them. Others, I found out later. One of the most amazing thing is on a certain level, they are exactly like a person who has never been in trouble with the law.

People break the law because of mistakes. The mistakes they make are rooted in disregard of fundamental morality. The seriousness of this disregard of morality is the difference between the average person, and the serious criminal. Sometimes people make mistakes because of passionate emotions or circumstances. I love to hire these people to give them a second chance or third chance.

Other times people have very developed very serious disregard for morality that goes down to the core of what is right and wrong. My brother-in-law is a prison psychologist and we've discussed this. There are many reasons why and how this happens. But these people also learn how to manipulate their behavior so that they seem 'more good' than the first group. They enable themselves to get away with their brand of immorality more successfully. In an extreme example, that's how Ted Bundy was not noticed by those who personally knew him.

In your case. Put alot of trust in those who deal with criminals to judge them. Follow your instincts of fear and mistrust to proceed with rational caution. Pray for graces for you, him, and those dealing with him. I don't know him, don't know the circumstances, havn't talked to him, etc., but what you've posted are serious warnings for a very serious problem. Whether it was a temporary or minor misjudgement that got him in trouble, or if it is a serious moral disorder, being forced to face serious consequences must happen for any hope of re-evaluating actions and possibly re-ordering their moral compass.