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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 5h

Happy #InternationalPodcastDay! 🎧 Today, we’re celebrating Before They Could Dream, a podcast that centers the voices and expertise of formerly extreme sentenced children.

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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Grateful to join RBIJ for their conference on Business, Justice, & The Next 250 last week! We are always grateful for the opportunity to convene with partners in the business community as we work to support pathways to prosperity for ICAN members.

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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

"I realized had more to do to become a whole person." Listen to the full 'Doing Sorry: Why Restorative Justice is Necessary for Serious Harm' conversation between Danielle Sered and Kempis 'Ghani' Songster, hosted by the Stoneleigh Foundation here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeWEmrsK1Uw

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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

"We were reminded that sisterhood grows when we make space for each other’s voices, stories, and truths," says Catherine Jones, CFSY's Co-Director of Outreach & Partnership Development and founder of Heart to Heart (H2H) about this year's book club.

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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

“By trusting people that wanted me to do right, I became a new garden to cultivate new habits.” M reflects on how the gardening programming at the state penitentiary, where he has been imprisoned since he was 17, has become an unexpected source of growth in his own journey.

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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Reflections from a 2026 CFSY Community Care Retreat Participant 💛 Learn more here: cfsy.org/what-we-do/community-care

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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Our community consists of dedicated professionals across many fields: entrepreneurs, reentry coaches, faith leaders, caregivers, and more. This #LaborDay, CFSY celebrates our community’s incredible work ethic and today’s well-earned day of rest.

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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

This week, CFSY’s Co-Director of Outreach and Community Care Programs, Eddie Ellis, celebrated his 20th Freedom Anniversary! Reflecting on this monumental moment, Eddie shared:

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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

CFSY's Donnell Drinks joined CFSY Board Member Rashida MacMurray-Abdullah for the National Bar Association's 101st Annual Convention in Nashville, Tennessee! Donnell participated in a panel exploring why incarceration and reentry are among the most pressing civil rights issues.

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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Members of our Movement Building Team traveled to Chicago to connect with ICAN and NFN members advancing reform, prevention, healing, and restorative justice on the South Side.

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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

That’s a wrap on CFSY’s second annual Development Team Retreat! Over two days in New York City, our team came together to reflect on our progress, strengthen our fundraising strategy, and align on priorities for the year ahead.

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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

We read yet another profoundly hopeful and inspiring letter from the inside at our all-staff meeting today. These messages keep us going and keep us grounded. You can read a selection of the thousands of letters we receive here ✉️: cfsy.org/get-involved/lettersfromth…

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Reposted by Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth

Juvenile Law Center @juvenilelawcenter.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Between 2005-2016, the United States Supreme Court issued four groundbreaking decisions (Roper v. Simmons, Graham v. Florida, Miller v. Alabama, and Montgomery v. Louisiana) drastically altering sentencing practices for youth and confirming that youth are developmentally different from adults.

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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

April Barber was 15 years old and pregnant when she was sentenced to two consecutive life terms. In 2022, April earned one of the first commutations from North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, and after 31 years of incarceration, April finally came home.

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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

“When incarcerated residents are encouraged to become civically engaged citizens, when they’re empowered to believe they can make a positive difference in the world, and when they’re given the tools to succeed, they can be truly accountable.”

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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

The CFSY team had the opportunity to return to the 2026 @ncslorg.bsky.social Legislative Summit in Chicago, Illinois! We spoke to the nation's lawmakers about why they should advance legislation that will end the extreme sentencing of children & create pathways home for those still behind bars.

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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

The Michigan Supreme Court has ruled that the 50-to-75-year sentence imposed on James Eads for an offense committed when he was 16 years old is unconstitutional under the Michigan Constitution.

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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

At just 17 years old, Louis Gibson was sentenced to life in prison. After spending decades inside the notorious Angola prison, Louis finally came home in 2018 thanks to the landmark Supreme Court case Montgomery v. Alabama.

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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Let's take care of ourselves and each other. Healing takes work, and many in our community have lingering trauma from the criminal legal system, from shorten childhoods to the heartache of losing a loved one. For more tips and resources, visit: cfsy.org/what-we-do/community-care

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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Michael Williams was only 17 when he was given a death by incarceration sentence. After serving 32 years, he returned home committed to helping others as a recovery coach, restorative justice facilitator, and reentry navigator.

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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Inside Philanthropy profiled the MacArthur Foundation's 10-year Safety and Justice Challenge (SJC), interviewing Xavier, CFSY's Executive Director, about its community-led approach. Read here! www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/a-l…

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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

At just 17 years old, Robert “Bobby” Pittman was sentenced to life plus 15 years. "They sentenced the child I was, not the man I would become," Bobby says. When he came home after 24 years, Bobby remained driven by a desire to prevent the next generation from entering the system.

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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

“What mattered most to me wasn't whether the case would immediately get me out of prison,” writes Angel DeJesus, “What mattered was the broader shift taking place in how children were being understood to be different–and Miller was a pivotal part of that shift.”

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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

At 15, Marshan Allen was sentenced to two counts of mandatory life without the possibility of parole. For him, Miller v. Alabama was more than a Supreme Court decision. It was recognition that children are capable of growth, change, and redemption.

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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

P was given a life without parole sentence at only 17 years old. For nearly four decades, he has lived behind prison walls, separated from his son, who was only two months old when he was arrested, and navigating the challenges of a recent cancer diagnosis.

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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Today is the last day to support our fundraiser! If you haven’t had the chance to give, there’s still time. Your gift will help fuel our work ahead as we work to end extreme sentences for children and expand opportunities for healing and hope. fundraise.givesmart.com/form/-hY59w

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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

"I will never forget June 25, 2012," writes Jose Burgos. Read his reflections on what Miller v. Alabama meant to him and thousands of other extreme-sentenced children here: cfsy.org/the-day-hope...

cfsy.org

The Day Hope Returned: Remembering Miller v. Alabama - Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth | CFSY

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Reposted by Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth

Fair and Just Prosecution @fjporg.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Survivors are not a monolith. New research from @thecfsy.bsky.social and Baker McKenzie highlights the diverse perspectives of people impacted by youth violence and challenges assumptions about what survivors want from the justice system. insight.bakermckenzie.com/cfsy-report-...

insight.bakermckenzie.com

CFSY Survivor Report 2026

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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

14 years ago today, SCOTUS ruled in Miller v. Alabama that mandatory life-without-parole sentences for children are unconstitutional, challenging a system that threw away children without ever asking who they were, what they’d been through, or who they could still become.

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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

“Decades of studies have found that in many cases, incarcerating juveniles is counterproductive,” writes Elizabeth Bruenig for @theatlantic.com. And “harsher penalties do little to deter crime or prevent recidivism among young people.” Read here: bit.ly/4uSWRnb

bit.ly

The One Area Where a 14-Year-Old Is an Adult

Lawmakers are finding catharsis in sending children to prison.

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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

"As I reflect on this holiday, I cannot separate its history from my own life experience," writes John Pace, a member of the Incarcerated Children's Advocacy Network (ICAN) who was sentenced to life without parole as a child and served 31 years in prison. Read John's blog: cfsy.org/juneteeth-20...

cfsy.org

I Was 17 When I Was Sentenced To Life Without Parole. After Serving 31 Years In Prison, This Is What Juneteenth Means To Me. - Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth | CFSY

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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

Are you our next leader of state-based campaigns? Apply by our priority deadline of July 10, 2026! cfsy.org/job/policy-c...

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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

CFSY team members had the pleasure of joining Homeboy Industry's Inaugural Global Homeboy Network DC Summit! It was a joy to be in community with others whose work is guided by the lived experience of those closest to harm and who prioritize love and radical kinship above all.

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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

The CFSY hosts yearly retreats to give our directly impacted community members space to heal, relax, and refill our cups together. Earlier this month, we gathered as formerly incarcerated children, survivors of youth violence, CFSY staff, and family members.

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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

Thank you to everyone who has supported our spring fundraiser! Because of your generosity, we’re 80% of the way to our goal of raising $175,000 by June 30. Now, thanks to two generous donors, every gift—whether $2, $5, $25, or $2,500 —will be DOUBLED!

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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

At 17, Azeem Majeed was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences without parole. He spent 26 years in Virginia prisons. Today, he is a trusted reentry and recovery specialist working in his Virginia community to help others find hope, healing, and transformation.

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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

At just 16 years old, Anthony “Pete” Petty was sentenced to 35 years to life. After serving 30 years behind bars, he came home in 2020 thanks to DC’s Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act (IRAA) and is now a member of CFSY’s ICAN network.

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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

CFSY’s Legal & Policy team traveled to New Orleans for the APAI 2026 Training Conference, where we connected with parole board members from across the country about parole review practices that recognize the unique needs and challenges of justice-involved children.

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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

Together, we have transformed how this country's criminal legal system treats children, helped reunite families, changed the narrative around children who cause harm, and built a directly impacted-led movement.

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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

Reverend Dr. Chris Kimmenez has "seen the system from multiple sides." He's participating in the Survivor’s Justice Initiative (SJI) to elevate transformative, restorative, and healing justice processes in response to serious youth harm. Learn more: www.cfsy.org/survivors

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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Being in community with Movita and other survivors of serious youth harm through our Survivors’ Justice Initiative (SJI) has been a powerful source of learning, healing, and connection. Will you join us? cfsy.org/survivors

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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

ONE WEEK FROM TODAY! Don't miss this fireside chat with CFSY's Ghani Songster and Danielle Sered, two luminaries in the restorative justice field who are actively building responses to harm and violence that our survivors, young people, and communities deserve. www.eventbrite.com/e/doing-sorr...

eventbrite.com

Doing Sorry: Why Restorative Justice is Necessary for Serious Harm

This virtual chat between ‘Ghani’ Songster & Danielle Sered will explore responses to harm that go beyond “saying sorry" to "doing sorry."

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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

We’re proud to be launching the Survivors’ Justice Initiative (SJI) with survivors of youth harm, such as Jeanne, who are dissatisfied with the current adversarial processes and seeking ways to connect, heal, and inform CFSY’s work. Learn more here: www.cfsy.org/survivors

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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

When survivors of youth harm were asked why they were creating the Survivors’ Justice Initiative (SJI) with us, many pointed to the desire to break cycles of harm:

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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

Introducing: Survivors' Justice Initiative (SJI). SJI is a space for survivors of youth harm who are dissatisfied with the current adversarial processes to connect, heal, and inform our work. www.youtube.com/watch?v=boUJ...

youtube.com

Introducing the Survivors' Justice Initiative

YouTube video by Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth

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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court's recent decision to ban the practice of sentencing those convicted of felony murder to automatic life sentences has the potential to impact nearly 1,300 individuals.

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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

Sara Cintroni was 17 when she was given two life sentences. After nearly 30 years, she came home in June 2022. Thanks to Maryland’s Juvenile Restoration Act, ready to rebuild, reconnect with family, and invest in her community.

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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

Lloyd Jarrow was just 17 when he was sentenced to juvenile life without the possibility of parole. After spending 25 years behind bars, he came home with the intention of rebuilding his life.

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Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth @thecfsy.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

Good news! Today, thanks to the extraordinary effort of our bill sponsors, team members, partner organizations, and other directly impacted community members, Maryland passed SB162!

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