A MESSAGE ABOUT COVID-19: HOW YOU CAN HELP

NO CHILD SHOULD SPEND LIFE IN PRISON

The Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth (CFSY) is a national nonprofit that leads efforts to ban life without parole and other extreme sentences for children. The CFSY is an equity-driven organization that explicitly works to dismantle the racial disparities, social injustices, and residual harms caused by the legal system. Through partnerships with advocacy organizations, businesses, and other stakeholders, the CFSY supports survivors of youth violence, those incarcerated as children who are still serving or have been released, and their respective families and communities.

Find out how to get involved.

Know The Issues

Explore the issues surrounding fair sentencing, from legal cases to statistics, then learn how you can make an impact.

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Show Your Support

There is still so much work to do. Consider making a contribution now to give children the second chances they deserve.

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ICAN (Incarcerated Children’s Advocacy Network) is a network of leaders who were incarcerated as children. Now, they’re informing our efforts, communicating their personal stories, and driving efforts to create positive change within their communities.

Featured Story

As a kid growing up in Southeast Chicago, Marshan Allen enjoyed fishing, hanging with friends, and even dabbling in music.

As a young person, Marshan witnessed the physical abuse of his mother, his father’s drug addiction, and eventually, started selling drugs alongside his brother. One day, a drug pickup turned robbery spiraled into Marshan stealing a car to aid in his brother’s vengeance. Although Marshan did not pull the trigger during the robbery, he was charged with two counts of first-degree felony murder and home invasion. This led to Marshan being sentenced to two counts of mandatory life without parole at the age of 15.

Learn More About ICAN

NEWS

View recent news and expert commentary written by the CFSY team.

How You Can Help During the COVID-19 Crisis

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8 Apr

How You Can Help During the COVID-19 Crisis Regardless of background, resources or personal identity, we are all living through a time of great uncertainty and…

BIG NEWS: Virginia bans life without parole for children!

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24 Feb

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 24th, 2020 Media Contact: Karmah Elmusa | kelmusa@cfsy.org | 202-289-4677 ext. 113 VIRGINIA GOVERNOR SIGNS HB35 INTO LAW, GIVING…

ICAN and Youth Justice Fund Self-Care Retreat

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21 Aug

The ICAN and Youth Justice Fund Self-Care Convening brought more than a dozen members of the Incarcerated Children’s Advocacy Network (ICAN) together from August…

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Join The Cause

At the CFSY, we’re on the front lines working to ensure that children are held accountable in fair, age-appropriate ways. You can join us. Learn how to get involved and help us make a real difference in the lives of individuals who were incarcerated as children, their families, and all people affected by injustices in the system.