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Describe your image of a criminal. What do you think has influenced your thinking? Has it changed over time?
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I guess TV and movies have influenced my thinking, reinforced by the street violence in 2020. Images are of angry black young men, probably fatherless.
Today we see crime un-abated in stores and against innocent people. No sense of guilt or a moral conscience. The crime today seems so much more brazen and
“in your face”. -
The child to the left on my picture. It’s my brother. He was a year and half older than me. I visited him in many different institutions. I became a Special Education teacher because he was not educated under IDEA because it did not take effect until 1975. He went to the Lord in 1989 he was 33.
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Growing up in NYC in a Christian home but also a son of Puertorican parents I saw different aspects of life and had family members in impoverished high crime areas. As a physician I worked at Riker’s Island and saw first hand the pain of inmates. I’m now involved in Jail ministry. To me the image of a criminal is complex since “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” The assistance to those incarcerated will be complex and need to be addressed. As I told a small group of men Sunday, “there are many men and women who could join you for their crimes but for one resort other-it could even be God’s mercy giving them another opportunity to trust in Jesus that they are out of jail instead of in jail. Criminals are often believers-this initially was a bit of a surprise to me but should not have been. They sinned in a way that is against a certain law and were caught. I sin each day, perhaps not violating a state or federal law and continue outside a correctional facility. Such is the mercy of God.
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We are all “criminals” for all have sinned. Some have acted out their thoughts and emotions, while other just keep them in their minds, and others confess their sin and repent. Jesus said if we commit adultery in our minds it is the same as committing the sin physically. Much has changed in my minds over the 40 years I have been involved, I am more forgiving, although some of the crimes make it harder to work with inmates than other crimes. But I must remember, first God has forgiven me of all my actions and thoughts, second God can< if the inmate wants, forgive him/her of their thoughts and actions.
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Someone who has likely suffered trauma, abuse, and neglect in difficult social settings. Many struggle with mental illness.