Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth (EIN 27-3761788) is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
Our longtime beloved CFSY community and board member Linda White passed away on July 3rd. This weekend, many of us had the honor of attending and speaking at Linda’s “Celebration of Life” held at her family church, Plymouth United. It was a heartfelt and profound experience of remembering the incredible person she was and honoring her legacy of love, compassion, and forgiveness for the most vulnerable.
Linda was one of the first members of our National Family Network (NFN), and was deeply loved and respected by people across the CFSY community. She joined the CFSY board in 2022, bringing her compassion, wisdom, and steady presence to our leadership team. In 1986, Linda and her family endured unimaginable tragedy when her daughter Cathy was killed by two teenagers. As she processed her grief over many years, Linda began to study the roots of violence and the nature of justice through a doctoral program at Texas A&M University. Her studies led her to examine restorative justice, the meaning of accountability, and how to repair harm. After many years, Linda and Cathy’s daughter, Ami, pursued a mediated dialogue with one of the people who was responsible for their tragic loss and came to believe that true justice would be served if he – and other children who had committed serious acts of harm – had the opportunity to return home and serve their communities rather than dying behind bars. She advocated on his behalf, and he was ultimately released from prison on parole in 2009.
Finding a sense of healing in forgiveness, Linda then became active in national efforts to end extreme sentencing of children in the United States. She was one of the first survivors to speak out against life without parole for children at the national level, playing a key role in successful advocacy to ban JLWOP in Arkansas and in several other states across the country–which has led to the freedom of many former life-sentenced children. She also taught psychology as an adjunct professor, served on state-level criminal justice councils, became an expert in mediation processes, and served on the CFSY board up until her passing, building deep connections across the movement. Her scholarly writings and willingness to share her own experience with restorative justice while amplifying the experiences of other crime survivors have played a crucial role in informing advocacy across the country.
Linda’s contributions to this movement are immeasurable, and her personal connections with so many in the CFSY community will be cherished forever. We will continue to honor her memory, and her great legacy of compassion and love will continue to live on in our hearts and in the many lives she has helped set free. May she rest in peace.