Today, Justin Paperny spoke to my class with Professor Dennis Torres about his legal and moral downfalls while working at UBS and consequent felony conviction and his time served in prison from his book, Lessons From Prison. Justin says that most white-collar criminals believe that they have done nothing wrong, legally, and that others were to blame. These criminals contend that their conviction is based on a matter of moral relativity rather than actual wrongdoing. Most white collar criminals, Justin said, claim that they are not guilty and that the Feds were out to get them. They blame corporate culture or find other means of justifying their less-than ethical behaviors that lead to their ultimate convictions and jail sentences.
Most white-collar criminals, after serving time in jail, would rather be in jail than re-join society. Many of these men are so accustomed to having a high income and a high-status job that when they return to society, after being convicted for felony fraud charges, lead quiet lives of shame — shifting from job to job in the shadows of society, and never fully reintegrate into society.
Justin said the hardest part of the process is not losing people's trust — rightly so — but having people look at you as if you are different, even when your debt to society is paid. Greater than this, the greatest consequence to being caught for unethical behaviors is the effects it has on the families of these men. Justin says he regrets the shame his family has to experience because of his actions and he is grateful for their support throughout the process.
However, Professor Dennis Torres wisely pointed out that we are all just like Justin. We are all capable of committing the same exact crime that he did. The FBI told Justin that it was not any one thing that sent him to jail, but it was a series of moral wrong doings and willfully turning a blind eye to little lies and knowledge of false information here and there. We are all just like Justin and any one of us could end up in his shoes. It would be ignorant to claim that we are immune to the temptations of money. When is enough enough?
Pride comes before the fall. As humans, we are not infallible or incapable of anything. We do not know how we will react in a given situation until we are there. It would be ignorant to pretend it could never happen to us. I know that am capable of falling into negative behaviors. However, recognizing the possibility of falling short is the first step to prevention.
The Bible says, "∫If you think you are standing firm, be careful you don't fall!"
If we can recognize our capabilities to fall short, we can be better equipped to deal with our shortcomings and to recognize negative behaviors before they become habit or before we dig ourselves in so deep that we cannot find a way back out. It is not awareness and recognition that we are capable of failure or imperfections that causes demise. In truth, it is the moment we feel invincible that we are, actually, the most vulnerable to falling.
NOTE: THIS IS STRICTLY THE OPINION OF AUTHOR AND DOES NOT SEEK TO ACCURATELY CONVEY FACTS OF GUEST SPEAKER.
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I find a particular quote interesting “after being convicted for felony fraud charges, lead quiet lives of shame " shifting from job to job in the shadows of society, and never fully reintegrate into society.”
I agree that seems to be a prototypical trend. I also wanted to add on that many innocent people (like political refugees) who have been wrongfully accused would also fall into that category as well.
Especially overseas, many corrupt Governments abuse power and jail innocent people for reasons such journalism, not paying bribes, etc…(can you imagine if you were jailed for what you just wrote?).
The point I am trying to make is that these abuses can cause these innocent victims to lead a quiet lives in shame as well… These people seem to move from place to place almost to avoid the Government and public exposure.
I’d say we all do what Justin did in our own fields and our own ways, just sometimes actual breaking of actual laws aren’t involved. But everyone lies, everyone covers up, everyone tries to slidle away from what they’ve done. I think it’s universal.
That means, though, maybe, that everyone also has Justin’s redemptive capacity.
Hello Bethany, it’s so nice of you to share about how we can prevent our destruction and I do agree with it. However, the prevailing issue is for those who had been convicted, finished their sentence, and struggling to regain their acceptance into the mainstream of society.
I think society has to be reoriented with their role as a redeeming community. Gone are the days of witch-hunts, inquisitions, and scarlet letter marks. The present democratic atmosphere must provide chance for an ex-convict to start a new life. Sad to say that the stigma would always be attached to people who had gone from jail and reformed. If our society cannot change its attitude, then who is incorrigible?