Before his execution.
His death would be part of his atonement.
There is no good work that he could do in this life to atone for the sheer horror that he has imposed on very small children.
Oddly enough when you find a truly repentant criminal they usually embrace their punishment because they know it is just.
This is true, and something that only fairly recently struck me about the crucifixion of the repentant thief (or revolutionary/murderer, or whatever he was) on the cross next to Jesus.
The man ("Dismas") never tried to prevent or even argue against his own execution. He testified from his own cross that he and the other outlaw were getting their just deserts for the crimes they had committed, but that Jesus had done nothing wrong.
In other words, he recognized the justice of the death penalty in his own case, and the difference between executing a capital criminal, and murdering and innocent man.
When he turned in trust to Jesus, Jesus did not rescue him from execution. He said "This day you will be with Me in Paradise."
What Teddy Bear said.
You’re a lot more forgiving than I.