Making the Bad Choice Seem Reasonable Again

At a sentencing hearing most judges hear I'm sorry, I'll never do it again, I'll spend the rest of my life making amends, I'll pay all my victims back. The judge says, we'll see. Then you serve 24 months. You come home to the bills, the mortgage, the rent, and the rebuilding is hard. You walk to the mailbox and the IRS has sent you a check for just under $10,000. You tell yourself they took your freedom and your reputation and they didn't take this, so clearly they want you to have it. You deposit it. Six months later your probation officer audits your books, sees the deposit, and calls to say this can't be right. Within a week you're back in front of the same judge you promised to make your victims whole, and your judgment and commitment order says any inheritance, refunds, or lottery winnings go to victims. Twelve months back in jail or prison, three years added to supervision. It's not a lack of information. It's making the bad choice seem reasonable again.