I don't believe that anyone can permanently shed a bad reputation. For example, if a person is known for being promiscuous that person will always be looked at as that kind of girl. Bad reputations are almost equal to first impressions; they can't be lived down. That person could do all the good things in the world, like standing up for women rights, teaching teens about sexual education and preaching about abstinence, but that doesn't mean post actions will change my thoughts of her. Another example could be a murderer, rapist, or a child molester. Since you can go to jail for all of the crimes previously stated, those crimes are on your record forever. Good behavior in jail may shorten your sentence, but that doesn't erase that accusation from your record. It becomes who you are. So when you are let out of jail, you have to inform the surrounding area that you are there. You don't get to walk down the streets "Scott free" even if you say you're a changed man/woman. You have to register or get "labeled" as a sex offender before you enter a community. So to live down a bad reputation is out of the question. Not only is this society programmed not to let you be forgiven, they have programmed the citizens to think that way as well.