Do you know many rapists, murderers, and child molesters in real life? Their backstories, the lives they lived before they became rapists, murderers, and child molesters? I do. I’ve been volunteering at the prison for over a decade and as a re-entry aide for dudes who get paroled. I’ve met dudes who had every opportunity to be good, successful people but chose to indulge their worst impulses and I’ve met people who perpetuated the cycle of violence. I’ve known some that continue to get love and support from their families despite the heinousness of their crimes and have seen misguided love turn into enabling. I’ve seen people rejected by both loving families and their abusers who taught them such behavior was acceptable. I’ve seen people break the cycle, struggle to break the cycle, and many fall back into it. I also have friends, like myself, who were beaten, molested, raped, pimped out, and otherwise abused who became decent enough members of society. Granted, many are substance abusers, have a higher acceptance of interpersonal violence, and have been married and divorced a half a dozen times, but they are at least aware of their faults and coping mechanisms and put in the effort to grow.