The Story Behind Crime Does Not Pay International

Meet Jarol Sánchez Estrada, founder of Crime Does Not Pay International. His personal journey and more than two decades of work in education for peace, crime prevention, nonviolence, and positive leadership have shaped an educational initiative dedicated to transforming lives and building more peaceful communities.

Jarol Sánchez Estrada: The Founder

Jarol Sánchez Estrada is the founder of Crime Does Not Pay International, an educational initiative dedicated to peace, crime prevention, nonviolence, and responsible decision-making. The initiative was born from his own lived experience during ten years of incarceration at Bellavista Penitentiary in Medellín, Colombia, from 1995 to 2005—an experience that became the foundation for a lifelong commitment to education, human transformation, and the prevention of violence and crime.

After regaining his freedom, Jarol expanded his work into educational, community, and institutional settings. He has contributed to peacebuilding and reconciliation initiatives with organizations including the United Nations in Medellín and the MAPP/OEA, and has collaborated with local governments in Medellín, Bello, and Sabaneta, as well as with the Government of Antioquia.

His work has also extended internationally. In Nigeria, Africa, he contributed to peace and reintegration processes involving approximately 15,000 ex-combatants. He has also provided consulting support related to prison and reintegration initiatives in Brazil and Costa Rica.

Jarol is certified as a Level III Nonviolence Trainer by the Center for Nonviolence and Peace Studies at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston, Rhode Island. He is also the founder of a Nonviolent Institute, established in 2008.

Jarol has served as an international speaker and nonviolence trainer in schools, universities, municipal courts, and other institutions in the United States. His work has also included collaboration with the Martin Luther King Jr. Center in Atlanta, strengthening his commitment to nonviolence education, leadership, and peaceful conflict resolution.

His work focuses on education for peace, crime prevention, nonviolence, positive leadership, and responsible decision-making. At the heart of his work is a simple conviction: violence is a learned behavior—and what is learned can be unlearned. Through education and reflection, people can transform their decisions, their lives, and their communities.

Learn more: Discover how Crime Does Not Pay International transforms lived experience into education for peace, crime prevention, nonviolence, and responsible decision-making. Our programs, conferences, and training initiatives are designed to help individuals and institutions prevent violence, develop positive leadership, and build more peaceful communities. Join us in developing a new generation of Peace Leaders. Peace is a decision.

From Personal Experience to Pedagogical Model

The pedagogical model of Crime Does Not Pay International is rooted in a deeply real experience within the penitentiary system of Medellín, Colombia. For ten years, from 1995 to 2005, Jarol Sánchez lived in Bellavista Prison, one of the most challenging correctional environments in Latin America.

In this context, Jarol witnessed firsthand the constant arrival of young individuals into the prison system—many of whom did not fully understand the consequences of their decisions. This harsh reality led him to a profound realization: people are not born destined for crime, but often make wrong decisions at critical moments in their lives.

This insight became the spark that ignited the creation of an educational model focused on prevention, reflection, and human transformation.

Discover our model: Crime Does Not Pay International is built on a unique pedagogical model rooted in real-life experience. Developed in one of the most challenging environments, it offers practical tools for crime prevention through education, reflection, and responsible decision-making. Our approach focuses on transforming mindsets, promoting leadership, and fostering a culture of peace. By empowering individuals to understand the impact of their choices, we help them become agents of positive change in their communities.

The Ideal Educator for Crime Prevention

By reading my biography, I hope people take away the message that human transformation is possible, even in the most difficult circumstances. My story is not meant to focus on the past, but to demonstrate how the decisions we make can redefine the course of our lives and open new opportunities to serve others.

I also hope that those who learn about this experience feel inspired to reflect on their own decisions and believe in the innate capacity of individuals to learn, change, and contribute positively to their communities.

Beyond simply sharing my journey, the main purpose of this page is to invite young people, educators, leaders, and institutions to join forces in building a culture of peace and preventing crime.

Because, ultimately, peace is a choice.

Our founder's vision: Jarol Sánchez Estrada envisions a world where individuals understand the power of their decisions and choose paths that promote peace, responsibility, and respect for life. His vision is rooted in the belief that human transformation is possible, even in the most challenging environments. Through Delinquir…No paga International, he seeks to expand a model of education that prevents crime by empowering people—especially young individuals—to reflect, learn, and become leaders of positive change in their communities. His ultimate goal is to contribute to the creation of a global culture of peace, where prevention replaces punishment, and awareness leads to transformation.

"Human transformation is possible, even in the most difficult contexts, and that often a person's destiny is determined by the decisions they make at key moments in their life."

Our Founder, Crime Does Not Pay International