Restoration and Justice Clinic Submits Petitions on Behalf of Clients to Department of Justice Backpage Remission Program

In spring 2026, the Pepperdine Caruso Law Restoration and Justice Clinic partnered with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to submit three petitions on behalf of three clients for the Backpage Remission Program. The Backpage Remission Program was established by the Department of Justice to compensate individuals who were trafficked through advertisements hosted on Backpage.com and/or CityXGuide for specific damages they suffered as a result of the trafficking.

Caruso Law students Hirni Shah (2L), Emma Joy McArthy (3L), Lilly Caplice (2L), Sophia Kennan (2L), Rachel Arabia (2L), Kirsten Kieu (2L), Amanda Peterson (2L), and Katlyn Kenney (2L) participated for the Restoration and Justice Clinic. Working in teams for each client, the law students compiled client declarations, supporting documentations including the trafficking ads, mental and physical health assessments, and lost wages claims.