The Story Behind Crime Does Not Pay International

Meet Jarol Sánchez Estrada, the visionary behind our mission. His personal journey and unwavering commitment to education for peace have shaped a unique educational initiative that inspires transformation and hope around the world.

Jarol Sánchez Estrada: The Founder

Jarol Sánchez Estrada is the founder of Crime Does Not Pay International, an initiative dedicated to education for peace and crime prevention. His project was born from a profound personal experience of human transformation, which inspired him to share his vision with the world.

After regaining his freedom, Jarol continued his work across educational and community settings. He has provided consulting services for high-level organizations such as the United Nations (Disarmament Program) and the MAPP/OEA (Peace and Reconciliation Process). He has also collaborated with local governments in Medellín, Bello, and Sabaneta, as well as with the Government of Antioquia.

His impact has extended internationally, working in peace processes with more than 15,000 ex-combatants in Nigeria, Africa, and providing consulting services to Ministries of Justice in prison systems in Brazil and Costa Rica.

He is certified by the Center for Nonviolence and Peace Studies at the University of Rhode Island (Kingston, RI) as a Level III Nonviolence Trainer and Founder of a Nonviolent Institute (2008).

Jarol has served as a speaker and nonviolence trainer at universities, schools, municipal courts, and institutions in the United States, including the Martin Luther King Jr. Center in Atlanta.

His work focuses on promoting education for peace, positive leadership, and reflection on personal decision-making as key tools to prevent violence and build more just communities. His most important message is that transformation is possible for every life—when people are given the opportunity to learn, reflect, and make better decisions.

Learn more: Discover how Crime Does Not Pay International transforms lives through education for peace, leadership development, and responsible decision-making. Our program is designed to help individuals and institutions prevent violence, strengthen values, and build safer, more conscious communities. Learn how you can bring this experience to your institution, participate in our programs, or become part of a movement that promotes positive change.

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