Greetings!
In the few years I've lived on earth, I've never seen a rehabilitated criminal or murderer in person; I've only seen them in movies or heard of them through newsletters in my country.
I listen to the radio often, and this issue of rehabilitating murderers and criminals comes up for discussion every now and then and it's always being tackled from different angles.
Three years ago, some groups of fiery terrorists(Boko Haram) in the northern part of my country were rehabilitated with all sorts of goodies, and this doesn't sit well with many citizens. These terrorists once made life unbearable for people in Nigeria as a whole and were reportedly sponsored by politicians in that sector....people are saying that there is a possibility that the untraced politicians could lure them back to their former ways. This is very much possible to an extent 😎.
What am I saying in essence? Rehabilitation of criminals and murderers is actually a good thing for society if it ensures that things don't revert to how they were. It’s akin to the Christian concept of 'salvation of the soul,' requiring significant effort to ensure the reformed individuals don’t return to their old ways.
On a basic level, no one is born to steal or kill; circumstances, often poverty, lead them to such acts to survive in a harsh world. If we examine it closely, we would see that crime rates are higher in countries with harsh economic conditions. If people have access to jobs and means of livelihood, they wouldn't resort to robbery and assassinations. I'm not saying that robbery or killing can be completely eradicated, but it would not be seen as a common profession among the masses. So, if criminals are settled and given a second chance to survive with lawful means, they would likely accept it and detest their former ways.
Currently, in our world, especially in my country Nigeria, the easiest way to establish oneself is by acquiring a skill and turning it into a business. If these people are encouraged to learn a skill, they’ll excel because individuals involved in crime often have sharp minds.
Test them, observe them, and guide them towards suitable areas.
I am very much in support of rehabilitation. It can make the world more peaceful by reducing crime. When rehabilitated individuals re-enter society, other criminals might look at them and decide, willingly, to embrace a responsible life.... because doing crime as means of livelihood is just like dining with the devil without knowing and one day, he'll come out with his tricks to cause regrettable acts.
Following standard procedures, these criminals should be released into meaningful living but monitored for a short time. Once they are deemed fully reformed, they can be allowed to live independently.
Thanks for reading.