Can you repair a bad reputation after a conviction?

 Posted on April 03, 2018 in Criminal Defense

Once you have been convicted of a crime in Illinois, your future may seem bleak and hopeless. Repairing relationships, rebuilding trust and fixing your reputation and how people perceive you is going to take a lot of time, commitment and work. Fortunately, when you focus your energy on how you can be a better version of yourself, you have every chance at fixing your reputation and developing a new, stronger you.

Perhaps the most important change you need to make is to commit to abandoning your previous poor choices that resulted in your conviction in the first place. Assess how you can change your behavior and find ways of doing things that are more effective, respectful and reflective of the type of person you want to ultimately become. According to Forbes, there are three major things you can do as you are working towards rebuilding your reputation. These include the following:

• Only entertain what you can control: There will undoubtedly be the people who refuse to see you as a changed person. These people are not your priority. Instead, focus on rebuilding trust with the people who do care and who do value your efforts for trying to change.
• Understand the extent of the damage: Analyze your situation and how far the damage extends. Make a list of people who you want to apologize to and ways that you can right your wrongs.
• Develop a new perspective: Create a vision of your future, complete with all of the dreams you wish to accomplish. Slowly set realistic goals that will get you closer to achieving the "big picture" you have created for yourself.

The information in this article is intended for educational purposes only and should not be taken as legal advice.