Criminon Success

“I was a professional criminal all my life: a drug dealer, an armed robber, rip-off artist, con artist, thief and liar.

And I was completely and totally sick to death of myself.

My life was a lie, the world I lived in and created was false. The responsible and honest people of this world knew that and that was why I was in prison for the rest of my life.

They wanted me out of society to protect society.

And they weren’t wrong.

In one moment the realization and magnitude of the harm and injury I had inflicted on countless innocent people – my children, their mothers, my sisters and brother, my parents, all my victims and myself came crashing into the very core of my being.

Like I said, it made me physically ill, for days.

Those thoughts of injury to so many people were the beginning of my desire to make right all the wrong I had done.

From that point on I promised myself I would do everything I could to figure out what and how I could change.

But it was also at that moment I realized I didn’t know how to change.

We need to stop finding fault in society or the government or the police. Find the fault in yourself and fix it. Be what you want others to be.

Never look for respect from others but always be willing to give it.

Like the title of the first course, The Way to Happiness, the entire Criminon program is an excellent guide to change, to think about the effects of the poor choices we’ve made and to gain new ideas and new concepts, and then start getting experience using those new ideas.

The men and women who start and stick with this program have come to that point in their lives where they realize something in them must change. They realize several other things too. But the bottom line is that nothing has worked so far, so it must be us.

The Criminon program has given me the opportunity to effectively help others become what they’ve always wanted to be – a responsible, trustworthy, dependable part of their family, home, and community.

I now have an unquenchable desire to help all prisoners be a success and to stay out of prison once they get out.”

‍JM  
Zephyrhills Prison, Florida, USA

"I had been incarcerated nearly three months when I was first introduced to Criminon. At that time I was depressed and angry, hopeless. All there was to lose, I had lost - or so I thought.

As I completed The Way To Happiness Course, I began to realize what was important to me. I have now learned a healthier, more productive way of viewing life and in doing so, my priorities have shifted.

I no longer sleep all day, survive on junk food and caffeine, or react with violence and suspicion. As I began applying the things I've learned from these courses, my entire world changed. I had been very unhappy in my own skin, so I was treated as such.

Now, although I still occupy the same 8 x 12 cell twenty-two hours a day with little sunlight or human contact. I treat each day as an opportunity to grow instead of a trial to be endured. I keep a schedule - wake-up and make my bed, clean my cell, study. I work-out and have completely changed my eating habits. I've stopped cursing and feeling bad for myself. Essentially, I have made the choice to begin living in the solution. This course encouraged me to realize I have made some mistakes - BUT I AM NOT A MISTAKE.

I have worth and ability and I can become anything I put my mind to.

I believe my life has changed and that this course has brought me confidence and self-worth."

‍K. O.    
‍Orange County Female Jail

“My success story starts when I took and completed the Criminon course 'The Way to Happiness'.

I’ve been incarcerated in prison since I was 18 years old and now I’m 37 years old. My life was filled with hate, violence, loneliness, as well as no thought to anyone around me.

Well, 'The Way to Happiness Course' opened my heart, mind and soul to the right way of living and treating others in the world. My life changed dramatically since completing the course. I listen to people and communicate with others in a mature manner.

I now smile and laugh and take life more easier. 'The Golden Rule' is a common knowledge to all. But treating people as you would like to be treated is a way of life, which makes all live in peace and harmony- regardless if you are incarcerated, or free.

To respect everyone in life and around you brings respect, love and friendships in your life which can be cherished for life, and happiness.

By this course, my family and I are closer and communicate better. My sister and I are becoming friends as well as brother and sister again.

My daily life in prison dealing with guards and inmates are more direct and respectful to their feelings and a lot more polite. Staff even see the change in my daily attitudes and communication skills.

The course has even gave me back my hope and faith in getting out and going home again. I truly feel by this course helping me grow as a man and spiritually.

I can be a success story in society as I was in this course. I hold myself in a higher standard daily due to this course.

It’s so easy to be polite and helpful to others, and the rewards are so sincere and spiritually rewarding. It’s priceless in the big picture of life.

I hope my success story can help someone as Criminon has helped me.”
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T. G.

“Until recently, I have lived my life and based my decisions on one principle, If it feels good and it seems right, then do it. This principle is not a good way for one to be successful or ensure one's survival.

Eight months ago I made a decision to learn new ways to live my life: I opened my mind to all wisdom, knowledge and understanding that would help me to discover these new ways I was searching for. I was introduced to the Criminon Correspondence Course. At first I thought the course was a bit silly, the material was basic stuff. But, here I was in prison, so I thought maybe I could use a refresher course on the basics.

I decided to apply myself and learn everything I could from this course. As I tore apart each question, I found myself digging deep into my mind. I experienced discoveries and realizations that shocked me. I was surprised to find that I could get such a deep insight and that my thoughts could be provoked to such degree by these seemingly simple principles.

As I continued with the course, I began to put the principles that I was learning into action. I began to see that I was changing. I feel better about myself. I came to believe that I could be successful and that I had found tools that would help me ensure my survival, my happy survival. I have discovered a great deal about myself and how to live. I have cried to myself and laughed to myself while doing this course. With the encouragement and genuine care and concern of my supervisor, Kathie, I have found 'The Way to Happiness' correspondence course to be the primary source of my new found self-respect, dignity and hope."
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M.D.

Dear Criminon,

I cannot thank you enough for the opportunity to enroll in and be a participant in the Criminon Rehabilitation Program. 'The Way to Happiness' extension course has been for me an eye-opening, life-changing experience, and one which has blessed my personal life and well-being tremendously. Never in all the years of my incarceration have I been moved to again hope and belief in the future, nor inspired to change, truly, truly change as I have now been so moved and inspired to do, in order to become a better, brighter and far more benevolent person. The many precepts taught and promoted within this course are not only vital to my own peace of mind and peaceful interaction with prison life, but are also invaluable to me making it successfully out in the streets. And to think that I’ve only just begun to engage upon this newfound path and journey. So I am excited about all that the future holds in store for me. For me, two words define clearly the overall message of 'The Way to Happiness' extension course: Truth and Love. Truth to oneself and honest interaction with our fellow man, Love of life and love for the world we live in and love towards our fellow man, but even more importantly that we love ourselves. Again, Thank You, Criminon.

Sincerely,
‍S.0.

"While taking the Understanding and Overcoming Addiction Course I have learned that people take drugs to ease pain. I remember at first thinking that this was not true, because I remember the first time I did heroin which is my drug of choice. I did it the first time out of curiosity, then I believed that I liked it deeply so that was why I chose to continue my use which led me to become strung out. Once I was strung out, it was like the drug was not getting me high anymore, and I was just using to not get sick.

After getting clean the first time I never really realized exactly why I kept going back to using until actually reading the reason behind the drug problem which was to ease pain. When I think about what my pain could have been then I see the many things. I got high for courage, I got high to cope with life, I got high for power, I got high for confidence, I got high for assurance, I got high for relaxation, I got high for strength, I got high for friendship, I got high for sociability, I got high for happiness.

When I think about all the reasons I got high it was to take away those pains. However, it never took away those pains. It only made things worse, I became unhappy, miserable, I made enemies, I became lonely, I almost died.

I got high for power and became powerless. I also learned a little bit about the effects that drugs had on the mind and body. One other section that I learned a great deal about was helping someone get off drugs.

This is something that I had wished I knew long ago, because one of the worst things about heroin is withdrawal and this section teaches you about nutritional data such as the *drug-bomb which contains many different vitamins in which you lack while using drugs and these vitamins also help push the drugs out quicker... I also learned about objective exercises.

Conclusion: If I learned all of these tools and techniques years ago I might not be in the situation I am in right now. Drugs are my only reason for being here right now and in the past. I can't go in the past and re-do what is done. However, I can take what I have learned from this course into the future."

R. J.
‍Orange County Jail

* Drug bomb – a vitamin formula found effective in combating the effects of withdrawal.

“I spent 19 years of my life, as a member of a California Prison Gang.  Living a life void of morals and virtues, filled with vice and violence. On the streets or behind the walls of prison….1995 this came to a climax when I was sentenced to four life sentences and 96 years, as a direct result of living a life of vice and violence as a prison gang member.  Five years into this sentence I parted ways with the prison gang, but the vices and violence continued, until, in 2004, I enrolled in the Criminon Program.

At first, I did so to kill time, because I was in the hole, facing criminal charges again. But as I began to do these lessons to kill the time with, a funny thing happened - a desire to change began to blossom in me, and I began to apply the things I was learning to my life.  Change began, I had been under the belief it was too late for me, I had fallen too deep into the life of vice and violence.  But here I was changing…relearning basic living skills, replacing the vices with virtues.  Then half way through this course the most beautiful thing happened, my heart opened up to Jesus, and I became a Christian and returned to the Catholic Church, which I had abandoned as a teenager.

Criminon, is not a so-called 'God Program,' but by applying the basic living skills it teaches, and the virtues you learn in 'The Way to Happiness' course, it brought forth in me a desire to change, and easy steps to take to achieve change…and this change led me back to Jesus and opened my eyes to the fact that even though I’ll never be free from prison, the purpose I exist for still exists…to know God, to love God, and to serve God.”

M. F .
‍Corcoran State Prison

"By me being a victim and a product of a high crime risk, and an extremely violent environment on the west-side of south-central Los Angeles: I was inflicted with a strong sense of distrust, rage and other criminal characteristics beyond my control. Resulting from the poverty, lock of education, social disorders, and gang-related activities that I was strongly subjected to. Drugs —PCP, marijuana, and alcohol — along with past experiences of witnessed homicides and attempts being made on my life, played a major part in my lack of trust (Paranoia), my destructive tendencies and resentment that I would bury behind rigid controls.

However, by me taking 'The Way to Happiness' extension course through Criminon, this course has actually suppressed the flames that were ignited inside of me, and it has shown me a more productive constructive side of me, as well as how this world should be. It has given me a brief description of how to obtain success in a positive manner along with its survival tools of virtues and moral excellence. Slowly but surely I’m learning to “trust” and socialize with others again as well as respect and love all of humanity. If L. Ron Hubbard’s method of Criminon can rehabilitate me and open my eyes to reality, Criminon can help and reinstate anyone in special impact areas and other parts of the globe also. Criminon is truly The Way to Happiness!"

D. C.