UW Law Features Living with Conviction!

Many thanks to the University of Washington School of Law for its recent feature of Living with Conviction - we are so grateful.

Living with Conviction's IT Director Kyrrah Nork and Outreach Coordinator Mike Bayles walk Ashley Freeman through the Justice in Motion Web App to generate her court forms, requesting a waiver of her non-restitution interest. Bayles also filed and served the forms, on her behalf. King County Superior Court granted that request. Photo courtesy of Living with Conviction Executive Director Deborah Espinosa.

$300,000 in LFO Debt Relief and Counting!

Since July 1, 2022, our justice-impacted legal empowerment team has helped their peers obtain waivers and/or reductions of about $300,000 in LFOs from Washington State superior courts -- all without the assistance of lawyers.

Our Justice in Motion Web App makes it much easier to fill out the forms to request a court waive or reduce their LFOs. Give it a try!

Meet Saba! Our 2022 intern!

Meet Saba Mir, Living with Conviction’s summer 2022 intern! Better late than never! :-)

Saba is a junior at the University of Washington in Seattle, double majoring in Public Health-Global Health and Law, Societies, and Justice (LSJ). And this fall, Saba is serving as a Resident Assistant in the girls’ dorm. Talk about having a full schedule! Even with a full load, Saba was kind enough to make time to allow me to interview her…

Why did Saba choose LwC to intern with?

Since the work of LwC is about bringing awareness to and helping people with their criminal justice debt, LFOs, interning for the LwC matches well with Saba’s interests in law and her double major.

How does what she’s majoring in at UW connect with the work of LwC?

Says Saba, the “…Law, Societies, and Justice major focuses a lot on the criminal legal system and how it impacts individuals, their families, and their communities. We also focus a lot on how law and legal institutions shapes people’s lives.” Saba continued, Public Health “takes a very holistic approach in understanding the factors that contribute to people’s health and wellbeing. And I think a huge aspect of LFOs is that they prevent people from being able to support themselves and their families.”

What has she learned about herself in interning for LWC?

When answering this question, Saba expressed her gratitude in being part of LwC. Along with that, she talked about how what she’s learned as an intern has made her more confident in herself. From helping with grant applications, sitting in on meetings, amongst other things she’s been able to do for LwC, there’s no telling what amazing opportunities she has ahead of her in law and public health.

We were very lucky and grateful to have Saba on our team! ~ET

Introducing Esther Taylor!

Esther is Living with Conviction’s new Communications Consultant! In June 2022, Esther graduated from Walla Walla University with a bachelor’s degree in Strategic Communications and joined the LwC team. Esther’s one of the 3% of people who’ve been in the foster care system and earn a college degree! Now that’s what you call a rockstar! With a passion to change the foster care system and end youth and young adult homelessness, it shows in the hard work she puts into her LwC role. Her hobbies include reading, writing, listening to music, and her advocacy work. The sky’s the limit to what’s in store for Esther’s future! Thank you for joining us, Esther!