The Campaign for Fair Sentencing of Youth

The number of incarcerated youth who are in prison for life is growing at an astonishing rate in the United States. 

The Campaign for Fair Sentencing of Youth is a nation wide organization whose goal is to reduce and abolish the sentencing of any person below the age of 18 to life without the possibility of parole. The  non-profit organization strongly believes that youth should not have their lives destroyed in prison without parole and that many of these youth can be rehabilitated. 

The The Campaign for Fair Sentencing of Youth has many advisory committees organized by state that will fight to review individual youth cases for re-evaluation. The campaigns are led by legal professionals, advocacy organizations and family members of people who are in prison for life without parole for crimes they committed when they were under the age of 18 years. 

The Supreme Court is currently reviewing a case of a 14-year-old who was convicted and sentenced to life without parole for an unintentional killing where the youth was not even the triggerman. This is just one of many cases that need to be reviewed. 

The Campaign for Fair Sentencing of Youth believes that all people who have committed a crime should be held accountable for that crime, but also feel that humans have the capacity to grow and change, to be rehabilitated and become contributing members of society. 

Sentencing minors to life terms sends an unequivocal message to young people that they are beyond redemption.  We believe that society should not be in the practice of discarding young people convicted of crimes for life, but instead, should provide motivations and opportunities for healing, rehabilitation, and the potential for them to one day return to our communities as productive members of society.

 

 

Research has proven that youth are still developing both physically and emotionally and their brains, not just their bodies, are not yet fully mature. Because of these differences, youth have greater potential to become rehabilitated.  Therefore, we believe that youth under the age of 18 should never be sentenced to prison for the rest of their lives without hope of release.

The Campaign for Fair Sentencing of Youth believe that youth should have the opportunity to to have their cases reviewed as they mature. These reviews could show that the youth have payed for their crimes, can be rehabilitated and and become successfully reintegrated into society. In addition, The Campaign for Fair Sentencing of Youth understands the harm and trauma that is inflicted when a crime has been committed and that families and victims of these crimes should be notified about case reviews. 

The Campaign for Fair Sentencing of Youth is run by volunteers and donations. If you would like to participate in helping to heal incarcerated youth, please contact The Campaign for Fair Sentencing of Youth.