Second chances gone wrong
Part of Shannon's journey includes understanding why criminals become more likely to reoffend, no doubt in an effort to understand her own husband's betrayal of their marital vows in the pursuit of violent crime. She started their relationship with a second chance, and Jason's parole constituted a second chance, and in the end, it's for nothing.
The confusion of criminal justice
Jails put criminals in close connection, which means an endless supply of complicating situations where criminals are forced into misbehavior for their safety in the jail. Also, the felony status and the parole system create a likelihood for further offenses. Also, the court system is so difficult to understand that it takes serious time and energy just to be able to understand what each hearing is about. The legal arbitration of guilt is a lengthy and trying process.
Guilt
Nevertheless, even for Moroney's (perhaps misguided) attempts to help Jason into a better future, he betrays her and also his community by raping two young women. He is guilty and he is knowingly guilty.
Obsession
The story features a (perhaps unintentional) depiction of unhealthy obsession. While the two women are coming to terms with the reality of their victimhood, Moroney pries into their lives for her own closure. In a way, this represents the diversity of suffering, but more obviously it indicates Moroney's understandable obsession with these women who, from her confused perspective, were worth her husband betraying her for. This conflict of interests is certainly not pretty.
