Jeanne Bishop

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Jeanne Bishop – Jeanne Bishop’s pregnant sister and brother-in-law were killed by a teenager, who was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. Over time, Jeanne didn’t find healing in that outcome. She has since become a leading advocate for banning the sentence and ensuring that all children have an opportunity for review.

Her memoir Change of Heart: Justice, Mercy, and Making Peace with My Sister’s Killer is a powerful, true story of faith and forgiveness shows that all of us are capable of experiencing the healing and renewal that comes with truly forgiving another. From once wishing that her sister’s killer languished in a cell for the rest of his life, Jeanne now visits him regularly in prison and publicly advocates for his release. Her compelling story offers a better understanding of what it truly means to be a person of faith. Get your copy of Change of Heart here.



Isa Farrington-Nichols

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Isa Farrington-Nichols – On February 16, 2002, Isa Farrington Nichols set out to run some common errands; a quick trip to the grocery store, stopping by some friends and picking up her then 14-year-old daughter. Yet for Isa, this otherwise normal day would leave her to question every aspect of her life, who she ever was, and who was even truly by her side as she coped with loss, revenge, and betrayal.

In a journey of personal growth after the brutal murder of her niece, Isa recounts the RESTORE: a Guide for Truth and Reconciliation of Traumatic Experiences that begin at her doorsteps and led to the Beltway DC Sniper attacks that rocked the nation. RESTORE guides you to examine every aspect of your own life. This powerful story of truth and reconciliation through traumatic experiences moves you to reclaim, empower and Restore your life with hope and for a greater purpose. She is also the author of Genesis The Bullet Was Meant For Me D.C. Sniper Story Untold. You can purchase a copy of Isa’s books here.

Damon Venable

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Damon Venable – At sixteen, Damon Venable, when encountering the New Jersey criminal legal system, which cared less about what he thought and felt or what circumstances led to his decisions, was sentenced to fifty years to life in prison. A Beautiful Pain is the story of one Black boy’s misguided quest for identity and belonging while navigating through atypical childhood adversities; poverty, physical and gun violence, social decay and rampant drug use, racially disparate and aggressive policing, and other forms of institutional neglect in the 1980s.

This book is a coming-of-age story about hope, struggle, and willpower in the face of sheer hopelessness and inhumane suffering inside the carceral spaces of America. It is a story highlighting the power of choice and reclaiming one’s dignity and agency despite the stigma and treatment of being irredeemable and how one’s mindset can be re-tuned to shape a positive life trajectory. Get your copy of A Beautiful Pain here.

Larry and Laila Miller

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Larry and Laila Miller – Larry Miller became involved with gangs during his turbulent childhood in Philadelphia and, at the age of 16, was found guilty of second-degree murder. Charged as a child, Larry served four and a half years in a juvenile detention center. When his gangland past caused him to lose his first major job opportunity, Miller vowed to keep it a secret. He went on to climb the corporate ladder at Nike, eventually becoming the President of the Jordan Brand. Jump tells the remarkable story of his rise from gangland violence to the pinnacles of international business. Co-authored by his daughter Laila Lacy, Laila became inspired by her father’s experience she became a fierce criminal justice advocate and now sits on the CFSY’s Board of Directors. More than a rags-to-riches story, Jump is also a passionate appeal for second chances and criminal justice reform, and expanded educational opportunities for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people across the United States. Get your copy of Jump here.

Ronald Olivier

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Ronald Olivier – Ronald Olivier was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole and was incarcerated for nearly three decades. Finally, after being locked up for 27 years at the notorious Louisiana State Penitentiary known as Angola, Ron was miraculously released in 2018.His memoir, 27 Summers: My Journey to Freedom, Forgiveness, and Redemption During My Time in Angola Prison, recounts Ron’s journey and how, even through the agony of solitary confinement and multiple transfers into increasingly dangerous prison environments, Ron kept seeking healing and hope. Get your copy of 27 Summers here.

Bobby Bostic

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Bobby Bostic – In the winter of 1995, 16-year-old Bobby Bostic participated in an armed robbery. After being found guilty on all 17 charges, the judge in Bobby’s case could have given him 30 years by running the sentences concurrently, but she chose to run them consecutively for a total of 241 years. He would not be eligible for parole until he was 112 years old. Thanks to Missouri Bill 2201, Bobby was finally released in November 2022. During his 27 years in Missouri State Prisons, Bobby became a paralegal, earned a business studies certificate and an Associate of Science, and wrote 13 nonfiction books, eight of which were self-published. His books deal with a wide range of topics and help paint a picture of what it’s like to be a child sentenced to death by incarceration. You can look through and purchase from Bobby’s collection here.

Halim Flowers

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Halim Flowers – At the age of 16, Halim was charged in the District of Columbia as an adult for being an accomplice to a felony murder and sentenced to a term of 40 years to life imprisonment. During his incarceration, he discovered a love for literature and arts. He began writing poetry to express the trauma of growing up in DC during the war on drugs and the superpredator myth era. In 2005, he started his own publishing company, “SATO (Struggle Against The Odds) Communications.” In 2019, after serving more than 22 years in prison, Halim was released. He is the author of over a dozen books, and his paintings were recently published in the photobook Love is the Vaccine. You can purchase Halim’s books here and get a copy of Love is the Vaccine here. 

Sarah Bryant

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Sarah Bryant – Facing 30 years in prison at 16 years old, Sarah (Bryant) Bailey was determined to spend her incarceration healing while advancing her education. After coming home in 2008, Sarah continued her education at Lipscomb University, graduating Summa Cum Laude with degrees in Sociology and Business. She went on to obtain another degree in Social Work from Chattanooga State. Sarah has built a life centered around service and advocacy. Sarah now dedicates her time to helping others get back on their feet as a Detox Alcohol and Drug Counselor at the Council for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services. Beyond her work as a counselor, Sarah serves on the board of Sarah’s Place, a halfway house dedicated to supporting individuals in transition and those battling substance abuse. April is the author of Behind Her Eyes, a raw and unfiltered memoir about her life, and A Tortured Soul: A Collection of Poems. You can purchase a copy of Sarah’s books here. 

April Barber

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April Barber – 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 from the Juvenile Sentencing Review Board, an initiative that the CFSY helped champion to give people sent to prison a fair chance at sentencing review. After 31 years of incarceration, April says reconnecting with her son has been her favorite p

art of her newfound freedom. In addition to being a devoted mother, April leads “Fenced In: Fighting for Freedom Advocacy,” an organization that has provided countless reentry resources specific to North Carolina. April also works as a peer support specialist, recovery coach, personal trainer, care aide, and steadfast advocate. As a prolific author having published four books that detail her struggles during incarceration and her commitment to growth and healing, she has helped call attention to the concerns of the incarcerated community. Look through April’s collection of books and purchase a copy here. 

Eddie Ellis

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Eddie Ellis – Eddie Ellis is CFSY’s Co-Director of Outreach & Member Services. Eddie was arrested and charged with murder at the age of 16 — he was later found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 22 years in prison. He finally came home in 2006. In his memoir Change is Possible: I Never Gave Up, Eddie shares his journey of being a teenage athlete with hopes of one day joining the NFL, to the events that led to him being charged as an adult at only 16, to his subsequent transformation behind bars, and his advocacy work following his release in 2006. Change is Possible is an honest and unflinching look into Eddie’s life, revealing a deeper truth about the power of redemption and second chances. Purchase your copy of Change is Possible here.