Janice Nix once ruled South London’s Brixton High Road. Starting out in shoplifting and pickpocketing in London’s swanky West End in the 70’s, her crimes eventually escalated and by the 1908’s, she had established herself as a well-known drug dealer. Known as “Mama J” by all the questionable characters in the Lambeth Borough, Nix was known for the flashy cars she drove and the stacks of money she always had on hand.

Nix’s daughter Nadia was born in in the late 70’s and soon learned to count the money her mom brought in at the end of the day. She also was taught how to give the police believable excuses and stories when they came around asking about her mom. Her life of crime and time in prison eventually caught up to her relationship with her daughter as well, who she was estranged from for many years.

Her crimes eventually caught up to her though, and in the 1990’s she began a 17 year prison sentence. During her time in prison, Nix was surrounded by women, who, like herself, had children left behind to be cared for by others. More often than not, these children ended up in the care of the state.

It was while in prison that her mindset towards her lifestyle choices began to change. One of her fellow inmates committed suicide, overwhelmed by the guilt from the impact her choices had on her family. Janice had spent hours consoling the woman whose children were being placed into state custody. The woman killed herself the next day.

After being released from prison, Janice resolved to leave crime and drug dealing behind and start rebuilding her life. She got a job as a ward clerk at a hospital and joined the work at the St. Giles Trust, a non-profit focused on helping at risk individuals in danger of criminal exploitation. In 2014, she joined the Probation Service as an officer.

This was the work she was most passionate about–helping women from backgrounds like hers avoid the same path she went down. Of her sordid past, Nix speaks with regret to the BBC:

“I am not proud about it. Sometimes I cringe when I think about my criminal history but then I am gentle with myself, because I also understand that without that past I couldn’t have what I have in front of me today – [the chance] to teach people, to support women.”

Janice, now 62, has written a memoir titled Breaking Out, which she has dedicated to her daughter Nadia. Her hope is that her book will do two things. First, she hopes it will give guidance and encouragement to others who are headed down her old path and are looking for help. Second, she wants to give those who are curious about her gangster past a real look into the vulnerable circumstances that lead to her choices, and perhaps soften their views towards those who are like she was.

A fascinating excerpt from her book can be read by clicking here.

This piece originally appeared in UpliftingToday.com and is used by permission.

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