Reclaiming Lives, third edition

A LINGERING INJUSTICE. A CITY THRUST BACK INTO LEGAL UPHEAVAL. CAN THE ACTIONS OF A FEW CONQUER THE DEEP-ROOTED BELIEFS OF THE MANY?

The 1992 death of paper mill worker, Tom Monfils, and the resulting trial of six Wisconsin men accused of his murder shocked a community. In 2009, Joan Treppa learns of disturbing new details about the "Monfils Six" case that have never before come to light. New revelations and incredibly close connections to the people involved in this case sends her on a mission to join forces with those seeking justice on their behalf. Her actions result in capturing the interest of a retired crime scene expert/private investigator who ignites a reinvestigation.

Reclaiming Lives provides an uncomplicated examination of our nation's criminal justice system and demonstrates the capacity to overcome insurmountable obstacles. Joan's dedicated, years-long efforts is a testament to the inherent difficulty in overturning wrongful convictions, even when the evidence of actual innocence compellingly refutes the prosecution's case.

"Reclaiming Lives" teaches the reader why it is not only critical to prevent wrongful convictions from occurring in the first instance, but also why the criminal justice system must be far more willing than it has often been to correct these injustices after they are shown to have occurred.

- Steven Z. Kaplan, former post-conviction counsel for Keith Kutska

Joan Treppa is a writer and social justice advocate for the wrongfully convicted. Though she has no legal training, her determination and commitment to become an outspoken voice for them was born out of having been bullied as a child. Her motto, "Nothing about me truly matters unless I matter to others," speaks to the familiarity of feeling left out, forgotten, and traumatized. Joan is a wife and mother who lives with her husband, Mike, in the suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her first edition of Reclaiming Lives won three national independent book awards.