An inspirational story: A living testimony of Hope for redemption

Correction does much. Encouragement does more.

 

Shon Hopwood was young and reckless. He served time in prison for bank robbery. Later became a well-known as a jailhouse lawyer.

Awaken once help others!

His inspirational story gives a silver line of HOPE to prisoners for a second chance at a life worth living. Shon did this from behind bars. His legal journey began at the federal prison. where he learned to write briefs for the prisoners while serving a 12-year sentence.

He heard the haunting harsh words spoken over and over by the prison guards to the prisoners.

You are worthless! You'd amount to nothing.

Without a doubt, those words and the hostile atmosphere crush their spirit and hold them back to remain behind bars with no desire to change their route. The low self-esteem kicks in as they feel outcast from the society. It's not over once they are released after the time served, and faced with a new set of challenges as they have to live with the stigma of being a criminal. 

The dark shadow of harsh judgment follow and prevents them from improving their behavior and certainly wouldn't motivate them to think better about themselves and make better choices.

Their past haunts them to the extent they go back to the life of crime for survival as it seems like the only way and over time most of them become hardened criminals. 

The condemnation presses down and manifests a heavy burden and they miss out on the joy of redemption.

Power is only safe with those who humble themselves to serve with love and care. 

Thankfully those harsh words fell on deaf ears to Hopwood. He heard his little voice after about 6 months being incarceration. He leaned prison is certainly not the place for personal growth. He decided to take a 'U' turn.

Shon Robert Hopwood is an American Law professor of law at Georgetown University law center.

Jails are also overcrowded with drug addicts. They are not criminals and certainly don't belong behind bars.

They need counseling not punishment. 

The recognition that. most criminals and delinquents are mentally ill people, mostly might have led to mental disturbance by harsh words spoken over them, who had to grow up in hostile atmosphere need treatment rather than punishment. The liberal outlook on the problem, that is the progressive social reform to replace punishment with re-rehabilitation

It is crucial we share these stories to give hope to those who might have given up in the belief nobody cared because they are worthless. 

Mental institutions and jails are overcrowded because most people are quick to judge, condemn and throw the key away and look the other way.

Don't be hard on those who have lost their way and trapped. Be tender. Listen to their story to understand why. Raise awareness! Feed their minds constantly to shape the lives. 

Tenderness is not weakness. Be kind! Help them break the barriers and find their way.