This year, we are excited to mark the 15th anniversary of the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth!

We are incredibly proud as we reflect on the thousands of individuals who have come home after being sentenced to life without parole or other extreme sentences as children. Before the CFSY was conceived in 2009, hundreds of family members were advocating on behalf of their incarcerated loved ones all across the country. Our common goal has always been to ensure that children facing extreme sentences have an opportunity for freedom. Just as importantly, we have spent the last 15 years advocating for our country to see the humanity in all people, especially children who cause harm. 

Together, we have made great progress! With your support and that of many coalition members and partners across the country, 28 states and the District of Columbia have abolished life without parole sentences for children. Yet, even as we celebrate, we recognize the unprecedented challenges currently faced, including worsening racial disparities and narratives that echo the “superpredator” myth of the 1990s. 

We hope you will make a gift to the CFSY to help us raise $150,000 from 150 donors like yourself across the next 15 weeks, and we are excited to share that the first $15,000 in gifts will be matched thanks to one of our wonderful supporters.

Your gift will help ensure that we have the resources we need to continue to fight to abolish life without parole for children in remaining states, coordinate strong legal representation for those who are eligible for parole, reclaim the narrative of children who commit harm, and provide critical resources to those coming home.

Our deepest thanks to you for being a part of this incredible movement. Onward!