History of BDEP

The Butte Defense Equity Project (BDEP) began to take shape in 2017, after Elizabeth Latimer moved from Brooklyn to Chico to take over her father’s private legal practice, when she met Maitreya Badami, who had recently relocated to Chico after working for the Northern California Innocence Project in Santa Clara. The two quickly connected over their shared experiences in criminal justice and their mutual desire to reimagine how the system could better serve individuals and communities. Their conversations quickly evolved into a vision for a nonprofit that would embody holistic, client-centered defense rooted in care, collaboration, and systemic change. 

Excited by the potential, Elizabeth shared the idea with her life-long friend, Peter Washington, who was immediately enthusiastic and eager to get involved. The three of them—Elizabeth, Maitreya, and Peter—began meeting regularly, energized by a shared sense of urgency and possibility. Peter, with a natural inclination toward structure and logistics, proposed forming a board—and they decided they would be that board. Each took on foundational roles: Elizabeth as president and de facto leader, Maitreya as secretary and note-taker, and Peter as treasurer and logistics coordinator. Though the titles were formal, the work was deeply collaborative and fluid, with everyone contributing equally to moving the vision forward. They later consulted with strategic planner, Lindsey Miller, from Oregon to help develop a plan, giving structure and direction to their efforts. 

In those early days, the team worked without a roadmap, resources, or compensation. All of it was done in volunteer time—juggling careers, families, and full lives. Yet the meetings were focused, energized, and productive. Decisions were made organically, but always in alignment with their shared principles. Elizabeth identified much of what needed to be done, but everyone worked seamlessly together, driven by mutual respect and a common purpose. As the organization grew, key board members like Amy Magnus and Kesha Haynie joined, marking an important turning point in BDEP’s development and adding new strength and perspective to the work. 

From the beginning, the founders insisted on a set of core values that would remain non-negotiable. Anti-racism was central—not just as a principle, but as an ongoing inquiry and commitment. They wanted to build an organization free from the limitations of traditional funding structures that might compromise their mission. Autonomy, creativity, and healthy communication were prioritized. Their vision was not to replicate existing systems, but to transform them—either from within or alongside, depending on what would be most effective. 

Their model for what a justice-focused organization could look like came from the Georgia Justice Project (GJP), which served as their north star. Elizabeth had met GJP’s executive director, Douglas Ammar, years earlier and remained deeply inspired by their "clients for life" approach—building lasting relationships, offering holistic support, and helping people truly transform their lives. She later introduced the model to Maitreya, and they both participated in a weeklong immersive program that helped build momentum and clarity for what BDEP could become. That experience helped solidify GJP as the guiding model for their work in Butte County. 

As they began to build, challenges naturally arose—chief among them: how do you build and fund something while you’re still figuring out exactly what it is? They often wrestled with questions like, “Do we fly the plane before it’s built?”—balancing the urgency to act with the need to plan. Growth has been one of the biggest hurdles: how to expand in a sustainable way, how developed they needed to be before applying for grants, and how to continue doing meaningful work without yet having the infrastructure to support it financially. 

Despite these challenges, they are proud of every step along the way. Every meeting, every planning session, every hard decision—none of it was easy, but all of it was rooted in a deep commitment to creating change. The perseverance, especially in the absence of compensation or certainty, is what they’re most proud of. 

Looking ahead, BDEP is on the verge of significant growth. BDEP is actively working on two key initiatives: the Familiar Faces Initiative and a Mental Health Project. Both are grounded in research and data collection to identify who in the community could benefit most from holistic, indigent defense. The goal is to reduce incarceration, limit time spent in behavioral health facilities and jails, and develop a more effective and compassionate model of representation. They also hope to explore how the Racial Justice Act (RJA) can be leveraged locally to further systemic change. 

Fundraising remains a top priority—both to support staff and to expand the organization’s capacity. But beyond resources, BDEP is fueled by community connection. They are committed to staying responsive to the needs expressed by the Butte County community and remain deeply invested in fostering dialogue, collaboration, and awareness about the local criminal justice system. BDEP continues to be a labor of love—a community-rooted, values-driven project shaped by friendship, vision, and a shared dream of a better future.