Emerging Issues Forum to feature Sister JoAnne Talarico 9:00 a.m. October 25, Activity Center
Sister JoAnne Talarico is a nun with the Sisters of Humility of Mary. Her story was featured in a Rekha Basu DM
Register article this past summer. Her commitment to social justice has taken her to El Salvador, seen her march-
ing and speaking out for civil rights and advocating for homeless veterans. She first became involved with a young
female inmate at Mitchellville twenty years ago. The woman was convicted of murder at age 17, having accompa-
nied her boyfriend to the home of the victim from whom they hoped to obtain a loan of money. When the victim re-
fused the loan, they left, but the boyfriend returned and stabbed him. Iowa law permits accomplices to be charged
and punished the same as the killers. This also requires mandatory life sentences for Class A felonies committed
from age 14 on.
After attending an Amnesty International conference in Des Moines three years ago, Talarico and other attendees
formed the Iowa Coalition to Oppose Life Without the Possibility of Parole for Youth. She spent most of the last
session at the Capitol lobbying for a bill that would allow work or parole releases for Class A felons who committed
their crimes before turning 18. They'd have to serve 15 years before the parole board could consider, among other
things, their age, maturity and susceptibility to outside pressures when the crimes were committed. The bill never
made it out of committee.
Sister Talarico will be speaking in the Activity Center at 9:00 a.m. on October 25th. Come and experience first
hand her beliefs in redemption and justice. Discover how you can become involved. All are invited to attend.