It is believed by some individuals that when a person enters a life of crime, he remains a criminal, meaning such people do not change at all. I disagree with the given viewpoint because some prisoners do change and reintegrate into society successfully.
Some people believe that prisoners do not change because of the latter’s background and difficulties in adapting to normal life after serving a sentence. In other words, some people grow up under the influence of crime, and for them, living in such circumstances is the norm. Also, even if they are given freedom after serving a sentence, they are likely to struggle when it comes to living a ‘regular’ life. From this perspective, it is clear why some individuals believe criminals do not change positively.
While the points made above seem reasonable, the word ‘always’ is not suitable in the given conversation. As a matter of fact, there are many cases in which ex-prisoners do not go back to prison and instead return to ordinary life. In Scandinavian countries, for example, rehabilitation practices help criminals learn skills that make their reintegration easier, and it must be mentioned that re-offending rates in Sweden, Norway and Finland are quite low. Rehabilitation practices in those countries include teaching prisoners specific skills that help them find a job once released from prison.
In conclusion, although some people may remain criminals their entire lives, rehabilitation-related practices show that some people change, and this positive change happens thanks to a practical approach such as the one used in the aforementioned countries.