Lisa Daniels found healing when she forgave her son's killer. She now leads the Darren B. Easterling Center for Restorative Practices. Through her work, Lisa lives out Jesus's teachings on forgiveness from the Sermon on the Mount. Her story shows restorative justice principles in action.

Confronting System Failures

Lisa shares her direct experience with the criminal justice system. She found that officials often ignore or minimize victims' interests and views. This happens even when they claim to seek justice for victims. Her insights come from personal loss, not theoretical understanding.

Informed by Experience

Lisa brings a realistic perspective to her work. Her clarity comes from both her personal journey and professional experience. Until recently, she served on the Illinois Prisoner Review Board. There, she reviewed applications from people serving long sentences for serious crimes.

Restorative Justice Principles

In the latter part of this episode, Lisa moves beyond her personal story. She explains the basic principles of restorative justice that now drive her life's work. These principles focus on healing for all involved parties rather than punishment alone.