Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth

The CFSY is now on Bluesky! Give us a follow @thecfsy.bsky.social. https://lnkd.in/eNqR6KJm

Kareemah Hanifa is an expert in the psychology and brain science that demands an end to extreme sentences for children. She’s also an expert due to her own experience, and living proof that everyone is worth redemption. Kareemah was incarcerated at 15 years old and sentenced to two consecutive life terms. After serving 26 years in prison, she became a community organizer and leader, striving to live an exemplary life. Since her release, Kareemah earned her associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees in positive psychology. Now as Director of the Chillon Project at Life University, she’s giving back to students through higher education, including those behind bars and impacted by the prison system. In an exhilarating victory less than four months ago, the Georgia Pardons and Parole Board granted Kareemah a sentence commutation which means her sentence is complete and she is no longer serving lifetime parole. “I am FREE free,” she says.

Two years ago today, the New Mexico legislature passed SB 64, a bill banning life without parole for children. Since that reform, nine individuals who were sentenced to life as children have come home and started rebuilding their lives. “The transformative journeys of those released thanks to NM’s juvenile second chance law show not only the human capacity for growth and change, but also how second chances are breaking cycles of violence and creating ripple effects of hope and healing throughout our state’s prison facilities and communities,” reflects Stephen Taylor, Executive Director of (De)Serving Life. We're so grateful to everyone who has worked on crafting, passing, and implementing this bill.

CFSY held another national call last week with members of the growing Incarcerated Children’s Advocacy Network (ICAN) dialing in from different corners of the country. We introduced dozens of new ICAN members, discussed upcoming community events, shared what we’re all doing to take care of ourselves, and celebrated each other’s recent accomplishments. “This is a sacred space,” reflects Donnell Drinks, CFSY’s Leadership Development & Engagement Coordinator and fellow ICAN member. “Coming together as formerly extreme sentenced youth and reminding each other that we are not alone is more important now than ever.”

A new study examines the impact that a juvenile life without parole sentence can have on an individual's ability to navigate and sustain meaningful friendships during and after incarceration. The findings suggest that the criminal legal system has failed to support former 'juvenile lifers' ability to create and maintain a support system, both with their loved ones on the outside and with the community they formed behind bars, ultimately leading to a more challenging and isolating reentry journey. https://lnkd.in/e8DtFceq

Xavier, Alicia, Christina, Amna, and Angel, CFSY's devoted development team, met in D.C. for a team retreat this week! Thanks to our friend Kayla from Purpose Possible for guiding the experience.

ICYMI: Dia Mimms shares the emotional story of her family's courageous decision to participate in a restorative justice diversion program after her father died in a vehicular accident. Dia and her family have inspired us to imagine and build a version of justice that is transformative, restorative, and healing. Watch her story here: https://lnkd.in/e8cJKSKs

Members of the Incarcerated Children's Advocacy Network (ICAN) continue to be living proof of the unique capacity for change that resides within every child.

In 1991, CFSY Leadership Development & Engagement Coordinator Donnell Drinks was arrested and eventually sentenced to the death penalty. He was only 17 years old. It wasn’t until 2005 that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Roper v. Simmons that no state can kill a child in the name of seeking justice. Roper laid the foundation for future SCOTUS decisions and advocacy that brought freedom for thousands of children, including Donnell. Today, he leads violence reduction initiatives and serves as a mentor to youth in Philadelphia in addition to his work with the CFSY. As we mark the 20th anniversary of Roper this week, we encourage you to reflect on Donnell’s words. While we’re grateful that no child will ever again face the trauma of being sentenced to death, the work isn’t over. With so many people remaining behind bars and so many states that still allow children to die in prison, all of us must work collectively to advance this movement with renewed urgency.

This week, CFSY’s Michigan Campaign Coordinator, Jose Burgos, was honored by Justus Noww for his advocacy and reentry work in Michigan! He received this recognition alongside 40 other formerly incarcerated community leaders, who together served a total of 1,000 years in prison. Jose’s leadership in ending Juvenile Life Without Parole in Michigan and dedication to supporting people as they come home continues to inspire us. Congratulations, Jose!