When Shannon Moroney married in October of 2005, she had no idea that her happy life as a newlywed was about to come crashing down around her. One month after her wedding, a police officer arrived at her door to tell her that her husband, Jason, had been arrested and charged in the brutal assault and kidnapping of two women. In the aftermath of these crimes, Shannon dealt with a heavy burden of grief, the stress and publicity of a major criminal investigation, and the painful stigma of guilt-byassociation, all while attempting to understand what had made Jason turn to such violence.
Shannon was a practicing teacher and counselor when her husband’s crimes tore her life apart. After personally discovering the lack of help available for families of criminals, she became a restorative justice advocate who speaks internationally on the ripple effects of crime. A volunteer with Leave Out ViolencE (LOVE) and Peacebuilders International, she is also a contributor to The Forgiveness Project.
Shannon’s memoir, Through the Glass, became an instant bestseller in Canada upon its publication in 2011, and sparked discussion and debate across the country about gaps in the justice and correctional systems, raising awareness about the ripple-effect of crime.
In 2012, Shannon provided testimony to the Senate of Canada for discussion of Omnibus Crime Bill C-10. Her interview for CBC Radio’s The Current was named one of the popular program’s Top 10 in 10 Years, and subsequently voted the favourite of the 10. Shannon’s book has been nominated for several literary awards.
Her book is now published internationally and she is frequently interviewed for television, radio and print publications around the world. She is a sought-after public speaker who shares a raw and honest account of her experiences and engages audiences in grappling key justice issues, inspiring them to consider the healing power of forgiveness, and the transformative possibilities of violence into peace.
In this intimate and gripping journey into prisons, courtrooms and the human heart, Shannon reveals the far-reaching impact of Jason’s crimes and the agonizing choices faced by the loved ones of offenders. In so doing, she addresses the implicit dangers of a correctional system and a society that prioritizes punishment over rehabilitation, and victimhood over recovery.
