What will change a career criminal?

How do you turn a young career criminal into a decent, law-abiding person?
It is important professionals and family and friends of Damon Best try their hardest to figure out the answer to this riddle following his jailing this week.
The Tauranga man is described as one of the Bay's most prolific criminals.
On Thursday, this newspaper featured the story of Best, who at 21 has amassed more than 80 convictions, mainly involving dishonesty and guns.
His rap sheet covers an incredible 11 pages, described by a judge as shocking.
Best was on Wednesday sentenced to three years in prison - his toughest sentence yet - after pleading guilty to charges of receiving stolen property and breaching home detention.
The stolen property was worth nearly $100,000.
Police zeroed in on Best and snared him in a special inquiry dubbed Operation Fruit in which they listened into his phone conversations and gained access to his text messages before raiding his home.
Looking back through newspaper archives, Best is no stranger to court.
In September 2006, a Tauranga judge was left red-faced after admitting he was duped when he gave Best bail over a raft of dishonesty charges and the then 17-year-old failed to turn up in court. Once caught, he was remanded in custody and eventually jailed for a year.
By this stage, the warning bells were well and truly ringing of what lay ahead.
Just over three years later, Best was in court again with 79 convictions to his name - something the judge at the time described as the worst criminal record for such a young person he had seen in more than 30 years.
Best received 11 months' home detention and was ordered to undertake psychological assessment and counselling.
This week, police wanted a strong message to be sent - and got their wish.
The detective in charge of the case rightly described Best as a prolific criminal who deserves to be locked up so people are protected from him.
It is not often police comment on sentences but, in this case, Detective Peter Farrell told this paper he believed Best should spend his full sentence behind bars.
We agree.
It is predictable that Best's lawyer maintains there is a real risk of his client becoming institutionalised - and the lawyer is right to a degree.
Jail will provide punishment and justice and protect the rest of us for awhile. It was the only responsible sentence the judge could dish out.
But, as with many repeat offenders, how does the system and anyone who supports the criminal concerned actually turn them into a useful member of the community?
Extensive counselling and programmes, coupled with strong support on the outside of prison, could give Best a fighting chance. But these have already failed.
A big part will come down to Best himself. How strong is his will? Does he care?
This paper's photo archives has a picture of a young boy named Damon Best from 10 years ago. We think it is him but cannot be certain. If it is him, he seemed so small and innocent. What happened in his life for it to turn out like this?
It is clear that Best has links to the criminal underworld and is tied up in drugs.
Until he frees himself from these evil shackles, it will be impossible for him to change his ways.