Justice Notes: The Four R's of Renewal
A White-Collar Journal forum for criminal justice, lived experience, and the personal search for redemption
This week, I would like to share reflections from other formerly incarcerated individuals who write authentically about their journeys through incarceration, reentry, and renewal. Below is a share from a member of the White Collar Support Group, during our meeting this week. I referenced the White Collar Support Group in Justice Notes last week. The group meets every Monday evening. Members share their stories and provide real-time support to their fellow members. You can learn more about the group on its website: http/www.prisonist.org
Justice Notes: The Four R’s of Renewal
In our White Collar Support Group, one of my colleagues recently offered a framework that has stayed with me. He called it the “Four R’s”—Responsibility, Remorse, Restoration, and Renewal. It is, in his words, the road to renewal after the devastation of crime, conviction, and incarceration. I’ve been thinking about it ever since, because it captures both the inner and outer work that every returning citizen must face.
Responsibility
The first step, as he described, is Responsibility. This means owning your role in what happened—acknowledging that choices were made, and that those choices carried consequences. Responsibility is not diluted by excuses or rationalizations. It requires the courage to admit that even when outside forces or pressures were involved, the final decision was yours. For me, and for many in our group, this remains the hardest step because it forces us to confront the wreckage we have caused in the lives of family, colleagues, and friends.
Remorse
Next comes Remorse. Genuine sorrow for the harm done—not only to victims but to everyone whose lives were affected—requires letting yourself feel the weight of that pain. It’s uncomfortable, even unbearable at times. Yet remorse is essential because it humanizes us again. It moves us out of the defensive crouch of denial and into the open posture of humility. Without remorse, there can be no healing for anyone, including ourselves.
Restoration
The third step is Restoration. This is where responsibility and remorse take action. Restoration is about repairing what can be repaired: apologizing sincerely, making restitution where possible, and finding tangible ways to give back. It may be as direct as repaying debts, or as symbolic as volunteering, mentoring, or sharing one’s story so others don’t repeat the same mistakes. Restoration doesn’t erase the past—it never can—but it signals to the world, and to ourselves, that we are committed to growth.
Renewal
Finally, there is Renewal. Renewal is not a single act but a lifelong process. It is the work of learning from failure, cultivating self-compassion, and gradually building a new sense of identity that is not defined by our worst choices. Renewal is fragile and ongoing. It requires vigilance against self-deception and the daily decision to live with integrity. But it is also hopeful. Renewal tells us that while we cannot rewrite the past, we can still shape the present and offer something meaningful to the future.
The Four R’s resonate deeply with me, and I suspect with anyone who has lived through the cycle of crime, punishment, and reentry. They are not easy steps, but they offer a path forward—one that acknowledges the past without being trapped by it.
If this piece resonated with you, consider sharing it or leaving a comment. To support this work and help spread awareness about justice reform for white-collar defendants, subscribe to White-Collar Journal and stay connected. John DiMenna is a member of the White Collar Support Group.
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