GOD OF SURPRISES with Don Smarto

GOD OF SURPRISES with Don Smarto

From SPECIAL SPEAKERS by Generations Church

November 16, 2025 · 46 min

About this episode

Pastor Don Smarto discusses his extensive experience in restorative justice and ex-offender programs.

The grandson of Al Capone’s barber and a former Benedictine Monk, Pastor Smarto has pastored several congregations and was a college professor for years; as well as working professionally with prisoners and ex-offenders for over three decades. He is known nationally as a keynote conference speaker, speaking about restorative justice, prisoner aftercare, and the educational methods most effective with prisoners. He was honored to speak at the Prisoner Reentry White House Conference in November of ‘07. Don’s research has led to meetings with judges and wardens in other countries including Australia, New Zealand, Netherlands, France, Belgium, England, Italy, Russia, Kenya, Canada, and Mexico. He was NGO Delegate to the United Nations Conference on the Treatment of Offenders in Milan, Italy in ‘85 and had meetings with President Ronald Reagan, Supreme Court Justice Warren Burger and Attorney General Edwin Meese. As a nationwide consultant, Don Smarto has played a key role in the development of ex-offender programs. He is the Chairman of prison ministry collaborations in Texas and Pennsylvania, and has been a consultant to the State of Florida Juvenile Justice System in the area of…

People in this episode

Guest: Don Smarto

Topics covered

  • restorative justice
  • prisoner aftercare
  • educational methods
  • ex-offender programs

Keywords

  • Al Capone
  • Benedictine Monk
  • keynote speaker
  • prison ministry
  • United Nations Conference

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Australia, New Zealand, Netherlands, France, Belgium, England, Italy, Russia, Kenya, Canada

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