Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth

Two luminaries in the restorative justice field lay out a vision of accountability that's active and gives survivors of youth harm more agency. Listen to the full conversation hosted by @StoneleighFdn here: youtube.com/watch?v=BeWEmr…

If you’d like to further fuel our implementation work and persistent spirit, please consider making a gift to our spring fundraiser: cfsy.org/get-involved/w…

⚖️We banned life without parole for children in New Mexico. Now, courts are upholding the law’s promise of release.

ICYMI: This year, we’ve been reminded how important it is to ensure our victories translate into impact for our community. Last week, our implementation work paid off across the country.

CFSY’s Legal & Policy team traveled to New Orleans for the @APAIparole 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.

Thank you to our Maryland partners, especially members of our National Family Network & Incarcerated Children’s Advocacy Network, along with Senator Chris West, Delegate @Stinnett_41st, the Maryland General Assembly, and Governor Wes Moore.

SB162 affirms that review provisions in Maryland’s Juvenile Restoration Act apply to children sentenced after Oct 1, 2021, ensuring that all people sent to prison in Maryland for offenses committed when they were under 18 receive the opportunity for sentencing review.

Last week, the CFSY celebrated @GovWesMoore signing Maryland SB162, which expands review eligibility for children serving lengthy sentences in Maryland.

We need your support more than ever. Between now and June 30th, we will be working to raise $175,000 to grow our work. Your gift will help us continue dismantling what harms us while building pathways rooted in healing, care, and community. fundraise.givesmart.com/form/Nzzt-w?vi…

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.

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: cfsy.org/survivors

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

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: cfsy.org/survivors

Happy Mother's Day <3

Change is Possible is an honest and powerful story about accountability, growth, redemption, and the possibility of redemption. Get your copy here: amazon.com/Change-Possibl…

In his memoir, Change is Possible, Eddie reflects on his journey from a teenage athlete, to being prosecuted as an adult and spending 10 years in solitary confinement, and how he is using his second chance to create positive change in himself and the world around him.

ICAN & NFN Virtual Library Spotlight 📚 At 16 years old, Eddie Ellis was arrested and sentenced to 22 years in prison. After coming home in 2006, Eddie became a leader in his community and today serves as CFSY’s Co-Director of Outreach & Member Services.

SJI is creating more transformative, healing, and restorative responses to youth harm that: 🌿Address root causes of violence ☀️Promote the health of our young people ❤️‍🩹Center accountability and healing as a vital ingredient to public safety Learn more: cfsy.org/survivors

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: