Campaign For The Fair Sentencing Of Youth

TO CATALYZETHE JUST AND EQUITABLE TREATMENT OF CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES BY DEMANDING A BAN ON LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE AND OTHER EXTREME SENTENCES FOR CHILDREN WHO CAUSE HARM; ADVANCING ALTERNATIVE RESPONSES THAT FOCUS ON THEIR UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS AS CHILDREN, INCLUDING THEIR CAPACITY FOR CHANGE; AND CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR FORMERLY INCARCERATED YOUTH TO THRIVE AS ADULTS AND LEAD IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

MOVEMENT BUILDING - CFSY SERVES AS THE NATIONAL HUB FOR ALL THOSE WORKING TO END THE PRACTICE OF SENTENCING YOUTH TO DIE IN PRISON. CFSY PRIORITIZES OUTREACH TO, ENGAGEMENT OF, AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, FOR THOSE WHO ARE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THE POLICIES. CFSY WORKS TO ACHIEVE REFORMS BY ENGAGING THOSE SERVING JUVENILE LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE, THEIR FAMILIES, AND THE FAMILIES OF VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE COMMITTED BY YOUTH. THIS INCLUDES THE INCARCERATED CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY NETWORK ("ICAN"), A FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND NATIONAL NETWORK OF INDIVIDUALS FORMERLY INCARCERATED AS YOUTH. THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE EXPERTS WHO DEMONSTRATE THROUGH THEIR ADVOCACY AND PUBLIC EDUCATION EFFORTS THAT CHILDREN - EVEN THOSE CONVICTED OF SERIOUS CRIMES - CAN MATURE AND BECOME POSITIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY. ALONGSIDE ICAN MEMBERS, CFSY CONVENES AND COORDINATES, AMONG ITS PARTNERS AROUND THE COUNTRY, IN ORDER TO ENSURE ALL THOSE INVOLVED IN THIS EFFORT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMUNICATE AND WORK TOGETHER STRATEGICALLY TOWARD A COMMON GOAL.

LEGAL AND POLICY - CFSY PARTNERS WITH ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS PURSUING FAIR, AGE-APPROPRIATE ALTERNATIVES TO LIFE-WITHOUT-PAROLE FOR YOUTH. CFSY ORGANIZES CALLS; TRAVELS TO RELEVANT STATES FOR MEETINGS; PROVIDES TOOLS SUCH AS CAMPAIGN STRATEGY ADVICE, TALKING POINTS, INFOGRAPHICS, AND COMMUNICATIONS TRAININGS; AND OTHERWISE BRINGS TO BEAR ITS ISSUE EXPERTISE, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, RESEARCH AND STUDIES TO SUPPORT THE CASE FOR REFORM. CFSY PRIORITIZES EFFORTS IN JURISDICTIONS WHERE IT SEES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR NATIONAL PRECEDENT TO BE SET AND WHERE ITS VALUE-ADD CAN MAKE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE. IN THESE JURISDICTIONS, CFSY WORKS ALONGSIDE ITS PARTNERS TO IMPLEMENT EFFECTIVE REFORM STRATEGIES. CFSY ALSO PARTNERS WITH ATTORNEYS PURSUING FAIR, AGEAPPROPRIATE ALTERNATIVES TO LIFE-WITHOUT-PAROLE FOR YOUTH. CFSY PROVIDES PARTNERS WITH AMICUS SUPPORT, RESOURCES AND TOOLS, MEDIA RELATIONS SUPPORT, AND SHARING OF BEST PRACTICES.

COMMUNICATIONS - CFSY USES PUBLIC EDUCATION TOOLS THAT INCLUDE ITS WEBSITE, SOCIAL MEDIA, OP/EDS, AND PRINT MEDIA TO STRATEGICALLY EDUCATE DECISION MAKERS AND THOSE THAT INFLUENCE THEM ABOUT THE PRACTICE OF SENTENCING CHILDREN TO DIE IN PRISON, AND THE NEED FOR AGE-APPROPRIATE ALTERNATIVES. CFSY COORDINATES WITH PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS TO ENSURE A SHARED STRATEGY THAT MAXIMIZES ITS IMPACT.