Crime and Punishment
An 'apology' written by a young burglar - as part of a restorative justice programme - aimed at encouraging criminals to stop and think about the innocent people whose lives are affected by their crimes.
Clearly the aims of the project failed on this occasion - and with this individual - whose foolish bravado masks the fact that he is ill-educated - and faces a lifetime as a career criminal - punctuated by spells in and out of jail.
But I wouldn't give up on people like this - I would confront them with a stark choice.
Not the false choice they face now - of a revolving prison door and a never-ending series of short prison sentences - which don't really deter such offenders.
But the reality of being put away for longer and longer periods of time - as a repeat offender - unless the young man decides to turn his life around - and try to make something of himself.
