Hey everybody, this is Aubrey Chavez from Faith Matters. Today we're joined by Shima Barataran

Boffman, a nationally renowned expert on criminal justice reform and a law professor at BYU. After years

focusing on shaping public policy and reforming systems, Shima began to recognize that the deepest and

most lasting change wasn't coming from legislation alone, but from the quiet,

compassionate efforts of faith communities and individuals who are directly transforming lives

one by one. In this conversation, Shima shares her astonishing life story, how her family fled

Iran after her mother's imprisonment for political activism, their conversion to Christianity

after arriving in the

United States, and how those experiences have fueled a passion for justice and mercy.

Shema also shares insights from her current research, which examines the profound impact that

faith communities are having on those often forgotten by society, whether it's through prison

ministries or sitting beside strangers during

bail hearings to bear witness and to offer solidarity or ward families who are welcoming and

supporting formerly incarcerated individuals, she highlights how these simple, Christ-like acts of

radical mercy are breaking down barriers, healing hearts, and bringing light to some of the

darkest corners of our

world. Shima reminds us that living like Jesus will often take us to the margins to uncomfortable,

messy spaces where true transformation begins, and that it's in those spaces where both hearts

and lives can be changed, including our own. We found this conversation stretching and inspiring,

and we hope that it does the same for you. And with that, we'll jump right in with Shima Baradar-on-Boffman.

Hi, Shima. Hi. How are you? I'm so good. Good. Thank you so much for being here.

Thank you. We're really excited to have this conversation with you. I wonder if you wouldn't mind

...