Crime Does Not Pay International
Peace is also a decision
Crime Does Not Pay International... is an initiative focused on crime prevention and education for peace, born within the Colombian penitentiary system as a real experience of human transformation, reconciliation, and social leadership.
Founded by Jarol Sánchez Estrada, the program promotes the development of Peace Leaders who can positively influence their communities through a culture of legality, peaceful conflict resolution, and responsible decision-making.
Our Purpose: Education for a Better Future
Crime Does Not Pay International is an initiative dedicated to human transformation and crime prevention. We focus on education for peace and responsible decision-making.
This is where your journey toward hope and inspiration begins, demonstrating that violence is not a destiny. With the right guidance, education, and opportunities, anyone can change the course of their life.
Our Approach:
Crime Does Not Pay International has evolved over time into an effective and persuasive model for crime prevention. Its core structure is highly adaptable, allowing it to be applied to a wide range of preventive initiatives and conflict resolution processes.
At Crime Does Not Pay International, we focus on crime prevention through education and constructive reflection. Our unique pedagogical model, born in a challenging environment, provides practical and effective solutions for building safer and more peaceful communities.
Educational Services
We offer a range of educational services designed for diverse audiences, from young people to professionals. Our programs focus on crime prevention, conflict resolution, and the promotion of civic values.
Workshops:
We offer interactive workshops for youth and adults focused on crime prevention. Violence does not follow standards or limits—it is not defined by economic conditions, demographics, time, place, race, or culture. It emerges as a reminder of our vulnerability when we fail to understand one another and allow indifference to become a common response to the growing challenges of violence.
Conferences:
Inspiring Conferences: We deliver powerful talks on the history and impact of Bellavista. This methodology, developed within a prison environment as a form of peaceful resistance to violence, has transcended over time. Its application is not limited to large-scale conflicts; it is rooted in the human condition and in the decisions we make—between good and evil, love and hate. It is something that lives within each of us.
Customized Programs: We design tailored programs for schools, companies, and organizations.
Educational Resources: Participants gain access to educational materials and online resources focused on crime prevention.
The story of Bellavista
The origins of this program trace back to one of the most violent prisons in the world during the 1980s and 1990s—Bellavista, in Medellín, Colombia. It was a center of power shaped by the presence of guerrilla groups such as FARC and ELN, paramilitary forces, organized crime groups, gangs, and former members of the public security forces—all confined within a space designed for 1,700 inmates but overcrowded to nearly 7,000.
Amid the peak of violence, a light emerged—our collective resilience in the search for dialogue, mutual understanding, and respect for life. The creation of the Bellavista Peace Working Group brought together leaders from all factions and pavilion coordinators, who sat at the same table to give their word toward conflict resolution and meaningful commitments to peace and life.
This initiative was later joined by prison authorities, with the support of the Mayor’s Office of Medellín and the Government of Antioquia, strengthening a process that demonstrated that even in the most challenging environments, coexistence and transformation are possible.
“Human transformation is possible, even in the most challenging environments. Every decision matters.”
Crime Does Not Pay...International