Society has been taught that if someone commits a crime then they are forever a criminal. However, I do not agree that everyone who has committed a crime will continuously commit crimes.

Let us consider the single mother who needs formula for her child, she works forty hours a week at a low paying job, has no support from her baby’s daddy, and is doing all that she can to keep a roof over her child’s head. Perhaps this week she needed to miss work because of sick child, without vacation or sick time her paycheck is short. However, her child still needs to eat, although she receives a modest salary, it is still too much money to qualify for governmental assistance, so she is forced to steal a can of formula. Does this make her a criminal? Does this mean she will repeat her crime?

Take in to consideration, Grandma Betsy, she has worked hard all of her life scrubbing floors, washing others laundry. She has not paid much into Social Security because she has not worked traditional jobs so therefore, she receives minimum Social Security Payments. This month her payments were late because of the holidays, groceries are low and she is hungry, so she steals a package of ground beef from the grocery store. Will this lead her to becoming a habitual criminal?

Finally, Jimmy who is normally a straight “A” student, in the honor society, always at Sunday school, and well behaved and polite, gains the attention of a not so nice girl. Jimmy is hanging with “Ms. Not So Nice” at the mall, he is stopped and searched by mall security; it seems that Jimmy has in his possession a few items that have not been paid for. “Ms. Not So Nice” had assured him that he will not be caught taking the items and if he really loved her, he would get them for her. Handcuffed Jimmy is lead from the mall to a waiting police car. Will Jimmy learn his lesson?

I believe everyone has committed a crime at one point or another; it could have been something as simple as taking a pen from work. However, I do not believe that it will lead to repeat offenses, nor do I not believe that there is a possibility of a criminal reforming.