Bad guy Quote by John E. Douglas
““When rehabilitation works, there is no question that it is the best and most productive use of the correctional system. It stands to reason: if we can take a bad guy and turn him into a good guy and then let him out, then that’s one fewer bad guy to harm us. . . . Where I do not think there is much hope. . .is when we deal with serial killers and sexual predators, the people I have spent most of my career hunting and studying. These people do what they do. . .because it feels good, because they want to, because it gives them satisfaction. You can certainly make the argument, and I will agree with you, that many of them are compensating for bad jobs, poor self-image, mistreatment by parents, any number of things. But that doesn’t mean we’re going to be able to rehabilitate them.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Mindhunter, John E. Douglas, 1995
Rehabilitation works for many, but some offenders’ deep pathology may limit success.
In simple terms: Rehab helps, but not always.
Key Takeaway
Tailor interventions to individual risk levels.
Themes
rehabilitation
crime
psychology
justice
Mood
cautious
analytical
Type
criminology
policy
When to use this quote
- prison programs
- therapy
- policy making
- community safety
Key Concepts
criminology
behavioral science
risk assessment
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we identify rehabilitable offenders?
- What alternatives exist for high‑risk individuals?
A Different Perspective
Serial offenders may resist change despite treatment.
