Criminal Justice

“Whether we are incarcerated or not, we still are living marginalized lives. . . . You are taking away access to the American dream. Everybody should be entitled to that – to be able to work hard and see the benefits of their hard work.” At 17, Carmen Pacheco-Jones aged out of foster care, pregnant and addicted to heroin. After a series of convictions for prostitution and check fraud, it was the threat of losing rights to her five children that motivated Carmen to turn herself in and begin the road to recovery. “I [didn't] want my kids to go through life thinking I didn’t fight for them," says Carmen. She’s paid $32,000 in LFOs, working three jobs.

Living With Conviction: Sentenced to Debt for Life in Washington State

Criminal Justice • Posted Sep 20, 2017
Criminal Justice