Justice, Forgiveness, and One Remarkable Friendship

Karen McKinney was a prosecutor working in the gang unit when her path first crossed with Joseph Herrera, a man she would go on to prosecute for murder. Twenty years later, Karen faced Joseph when he was up for parole. Not exactly your classic “how we met” story. What no one could have predicted is that years later, the two would form an extraordinary friendship that would transform both of their lives. 

Karen saw something in Joseph that defied his past, a capacity for growth, empathy, and leadership. With her encouragement, Joseph began using his lived experience to help others break the cycle of recidivism. Today, they can speak on the phone for hours at a time, and Karen occasionally joins Joseph’s speaking events at prisons. 

This story is a reminder that people are more than their worst mistakes, and that sometimes, the most unexpected connections are the ones that change everything.

Follow Karen on Insta

•  I Put Him in Jail for 20 Years. Now We're Good Friends - Newsweek
• Washington Post

• Deep Dive with Karen McKinney & Joseph Herrera on Hard Conversations on Kelly Corrigan

 

If you're interested in powerful conversations on prison reform, don’t miss our conversations with:

Humans of San Quentin Executive Director Diane Kahn

Jessca Jackson, Chief Advocacy Officer for Reform Alliance  

Jane Mitchell from the Reform Alliance

 

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