About Us

We assist individuals and their loved ones at various stages of the legal process through Participatory Defense, including arraignment, bail/release hearings, trial, and the original sentencing hearing early release through court proceedings, the Indeterminate Sentence Review Board (ISRB) and 

Clemency and Pardon hearings. We aspire to serve as a blueprint for similar organizations to establish and provide 

support across Washington state, particularly in counties with elevated incarceration rates.

What is Participatory Defense?

Participatory defense is a community organizing model for people facing charges, their families and communities to impact the 

outcome of cases and transform the balance of power in the court system. At Participatory Defense Hub meetings, we gather online and 

in person to support people who are facing legal charges and their families. At these Hubs, we gather in fellowship, 

collaborate alongside families, friends and the community to impact the outcome of the case 

and transform the dynamics of power in the criminal punishment system. 

The goal of participatory defense is to empower people to participate in their defense as well as encourage families 

to support their loved ones with intentional and focused tasks. 

This changes the dynamics of power, more importantly,

 it boosts our agency in the process. 

We are no longer powerless; we are members of the community, not just defendants or bystanders. 

How Do We Do Participatory Defense?

We meet every Wednesday evening from 5:00-7:30 to work on cases and help each other navigate the court system 

and identify the next steps. We engage with the courts and on behalf of individuals through letter writing, 

court watch (attendance), providing testimony about support upon release and by providing 

information to help tell the story of the whole person. 

We offer training and information on the following:

• How to write a letter of support that will have meaning and impact with decision-makers 
• How to help a loved one by working with their attorney
• Understanding the role of the defense attorney and team
• Understanding and navigating legal proceedings
• Other: Case Law, Court Jurisdiction, Knowledge of Judges/Prosecutors/Attorneys etc.

What We Have Done?

Families Shoulder to Shoulder has been doing the work of engaging community and reuniting families since 2018. 

Here is what Families Shoulder to Shoulder has accomplished so far:

• Recruited 22 regular letter writers (33 if you count for groups that sign one letter)
• Supported 105 families during their court proceedings
• Collected and presented 650 support letters to defense attorneys and the courts
• Attended 65 Resentencing hearings and 40 Clemency hearings
• Seen and supported a total of 47 incarcerated individuals come home and 36 incarcerated individuals have their sentences reduced.

386 years of reduced time cumulatively!

Our strategy revolves around participatory defense involving families in the defense process to impact individual cases and contribute to a more just legal system. Through weekly hub meetings, we create a space for families to gather share experiences and 

learn from one another, 

fostering a supportive community. 

The majority of participants are BIPOC from marginalized communities, highlighting the systemic racism and classism in the current legal system.

In this supportive environment, legal complexities are clarified, individuals are respected and everyone is treated with dignity and fairness. 

This blend of personal experiences, legal expertise and community support embodies Families Shoulder to Shoulder, making it a truly impactful organization.

My name is Ginny Parham and I am the founder of Families Shoulder to Shoulder. I founded Families Shoulder to Shoulder because I was personally impacted by incarceration when I bravely supported my son during his 25-year prison sentence. I  recognized the profound isolation, the hopelessness and disempowerment experienced by families who were pulled into the criminal justice system.

Many people have viewed the documentary called "Since I Been Down." I was featured in that documentary for my activism and volunteer work in the prison system. I have devoted my life to this work. 

My son, Willie Nobles, was arrested at 18 years old and sentenced to 96 years in prison after becoming seduced by gang life when he was only 12 years old. I have dedicated myself to helping other families to not face the same avoidable heartbreak.

In the years since my son was incarcerated, I have worked tirelessly towards prison reform and aid for those suffering under the current system. It’s a massive effort and until now entirely self-funded. 

Some of my other roles include,

Volunteer and instructor of Education and Restorative Justice Classes, educating inmates at Stafford Creek CC, Clallam Bay CC and Mission Creek Women's Prison. I have also been a contributor to the Washington State Criminal Sentencing Task Force, helping to refine the Sentencing Reform Act and improve draconian sentencing grids that keep people incarcerated for unjust lengths of time. I have mobilized a group of community members to write letters for individuals facing resentencing, clemency or hearings before the Indeterminate Sentence Review Board (ISRB). I collaborate with various other community groups and organizations, including the Black Prisoner’s Caucus Community Group, Participatory Justice, the Washington Defender Association, the Redemption Project of Washington, the Seattle Clemency Project and Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ), a Vashon Island Social Justice Group.

I am President of Families Shoulder to Shoulder.  I spent 25 years in prison and know firsthand of all the disparities that exist. 
Further more, I am one of the co-founders of TEACH (Taking Education and Creating History) and Vice-president of the Black Prisoners Caucus Community Group. Not only that, but I'm a certified life coach, certified peer counselor, reentry navigator and caseworker. 


My drive for criminal justice reform helps me advocate and help at-risk youth, influencing penitentiary reform, and working to build our community. As the President of Families Shoulder to Shoulder I have made it my work to reunite loved ones with family members and continue to be the bridge between the criminal/civil legal system and community.

Currently, I serve as the secretary of Families Shoulder to Shoulder, an organization dedicated to helping impacted families needing 

criminal justice support. 

I am a minority that is raising four black children that have been impacted by the system. My husband's 25-year imprisonment fueled my passion for justice and support. I have made it my mission to advocate for justice and support those in need. 

My professional background includes working with families facing hardships, and I am also the Founder of Reflections 'Paint and Create', a therapeutic art initiative aimed at healing minds affected by trauma where my goal is to provide a safe space for individuals to express themselves and regain control over their lives.

My purpose in life is to be a beacon of hope and inspire positive change.

I serve the role as the accountant of Families Shoulder to Shoulder. Growing up in the shadow of substance use disorder and its consequences to my family, my early encounters with the legal system ignited a lifelong commitment to advocacy and support for families navigating similar challenges. 

My transition to Families Shoulder to Shoulder as a board member and accountant was a natural extension of my activism, leveraging experience in grassroots organizing and policy advocacy to further the mission of participatory defense and comprehensive community support. It underscores the importance of community solidarity and the transformative power of shared stories and experiences in the pursuit of justice and equity. 

In addition to my work with Families Shoulder to Shoulder, my involvement with WashingtonCAN as the Organizing Director amplifies my dedication to systemic change and community empowerment. 

We are enriched by individuals who have made the journey from the constraints of incarceration back to their communities. We are among individuals, many of whom have reclaimed their freedom through evolving case laws and legislative changes, those individuals don't just attend our meetings—they infuse them with much-needed insight and resilience. We share not only narratives of adversity and renewal but also knowledge of navigating the legal system through lived experiences. This offers a blend of practical advice for tackling legal problems to embody the transformative power of courtroom advocacy and community support. Their involvement turns our meetings into spaces of optimism and collective wisdom, where personal stories pave pathways for others. Life stories act as powerful testimonials to the fact that systemic obstacles can be overcome 

with community support.

Additionally, lawyers and defense attorneys often come to our meetings to share information with participants and ask for support for particular clients/community members. Notably, public defenders find a unique ally in Families Shoulder to Shoulder.  

This collaborative dynamic between our community members and legal professionals not only enhances our knowledge base but also amplifies our collective capacity to provide meaningful support to those entangled in legal challenges.