Bad boy love

Could you fall for a bad boy?

Well, could you? Should you?

Could you write to him, perhaps out of sympathy,

Thinking him lonely, in his prison cell?

A bit of friendly correspondence,

You tell yourself, might help him to feel better about himself,

Feel more inclined to heel himself.

Do you think you could ever form an affinity

With a convicted criminal, serving time

For his crimes?

Do you? Do you think it could happen?

Do you think you could find it in yourself

To forgive such felony?

Give a fellow a second chance?

Why not?

Should we not, after all, be slow to judge?

Could we try a little harder to accommodate

Such wayward souls in our lives,

Strive to show love to those who may need it the most?

Shouldn't we? Couldn't we?

Could you take such charity to heart?

Could you learn to love such a man,

Embrace and support his desire for reform?

Persuade him to be free from harm?

Could you help to turn his life around?

What grounds do friends and family have

For judging such pure motive?

Could you fall for a bad boy?

Well, could you? Should you?

Remould his character, make him good,

Reform him, help him to alter his wicked ways?

If he did, if you saw the change, could you marry him,

Start a family with him, raise a child?

A child in innocence of any crime?

What could you be thinking,

Bringing a child into such a life,

Wife of a drug dealer?

Not a particularly good drug dealer at that.

Do you know what drug dealers do

To other dealers who screw them around,

Owe them money?

Guess you do now, honey.

Sweet love and life is all you had to give

And, boy, did you give it.

What was left?

Could you bring love to a bad boy?

Well, could you? Should you?

Can we choose who we fall in love with?

I hear you say,

And not for the first time.

I have known others that think this way

Should you fall in love with a bad boy?

Why not? Surely love is love?

Maybe, but where did it bring you to?

What did it do to the erstwhile object of your toying affection?

Where does it leave your child,

Orphaned by your deadly deed?

Your greed for the wild,

The dangerous,

The bad boy.

Not intending to be judgmental (Judge and Jury have recorded their verdicts and sentences), this verse aims to speculate on how such relationships begin and then develop. I have known, or known of, many women whose lives, and those of their families, have been broken by toxic relationships with repeat offenders, thinking they might be able to reform them. In so many cases, these women of unblemished character, with careers and lives to look forward to, have fallen for some naughty boy they think is, deep-down, harmless. They have been proved wrong in most, if not all, cases.

This was originally written to suggest ideas for crime fiction. If you are going to write crime fiction, reading crime stories, like this one, help understand the reality of crime and criminals

In my experience of criminal justice, the single most important factor in the complete rehabilitation of an offender is their intent. Yes, of course, they need a range of support in place, but only their own determination to reform themselves will carry them through. You can't rehabilitate while doing a bit of drug dealing on the side. There is no such thing as one last caper that will see you through for the rest of your lives. In many cases, you may have to abandon all of your 'friends', move to a different area. You will, of course, need work and somewhere to live. If support mechanisms and agencies let you down (as they often do) you have to grit your teeth, grin and bear it. Yeah, I know, easy for me to say, but do you think it is easy to give up crime?

When I was a prison custodial officer, I used to say to men who came back to prison, disappointed in their failure to stay out, not to beat themselves up about it too much. It ain't easy making a go of it on the outside, but I know men who have done it. If it doesn't work out the first time, you just have to be more determined for the next.

Respect to all who have found their way out of prison, offending, addictive behaviours, and consequently turned their lives around. You did it!

Even more respect to those around them who have supported them and whose understanding of rehabilitation does not start with a fairy tale.

Thanks for reading