Mend someone's ways

[namloan]

1. Many lead criminals in the US now want to turn over a new leaf.
2. Lots of notorious thugs in the States now want to mend their ways.

(I use "turn over a new leaf" and "mend their ways" in this context to mean that they want to become good people again)

Are these sentences natural to say in conversations?

Thank you so much

 

[Rover_KE]

1. Many leading criminals in the US now want to turn over a new leaf.
2. Lots of notorious thugs in the States now want to mend their ways.

(I use "turn over a new leaf" and "mend their ways" in this context to mean that they want to become good people again)

Are these sentences natural to say in conversation?

Not really. For a start, as a generalisation they are certainly not true.

On an individual basis you might say conversationally 'My lad's learnt his lesson from his stretch inside. He's sworn to go straight from now on.'

Rover