Youth Sentencing & Reentry Project

On September 29, 2015, YSRP launched the Youth Advocacy Project, or YAP, at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. This pro bono project uniquely connects law students with graduate social work students from the School of Social Policy & Practice at the University of Pennsylvania. Working together in interdisciplinary teams, student volunteers provide comprehensive mitigation and reentry support for young people prosecuted in Philadelphia's adult criminal justice system and their families. Since its launch, over 200 students have volunteered through YAP, partnering with more than 150 young people and their families. In this video, YAP students Dana Bernhaut, and Christina Bartzokis, and YSRP Staff Attorney John Lopez, Esq. discuss the meaningful ways YSRP and the Youth Advocacy Project support young people who are being charged as adults.

Join us for an exclusive screening of the original documentary series JUSTICE, USA, followed by a panel discussion on #restorativejustice. We’re pleased to support this event with the Stoneleigh Foundation, the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth, Common Justice, Juvenile Law Center, Raphah Institute, and The Youth Art & Self-empowerment Project.

We're turning 10!!! The Youth Sentencing & Reentry Project was founded in 2014 by Lauren Fine and Joanna Visser Adjoian during a time when the courts had ruled it unconstitutional to sentence children to mandatory life without parole but hadn't yet figured out what to do with those already serving these sentences. Lauren and Joanna frequently visited Juvenile Lifers and their families to keep them updated on legal changes and to let them know they weren't forgotten. They imagined an organization that could help with resentencing and reentry. They imagined YSRP. In the last 10 years, YSRP has helped over 40 Juvenile Lifers come home and has worked tirelessly to keep kids out of adult jails and prisons. We remain steadfast in our commitment and won't stop until the law aligns with our belief that all children deserve support and care. Together, we can create a system that recognizes the potential for transformation in every young person.

We are thrilled to announce that YSRP Reentry Coordinator Don "Ike" Jones has been awarded the Rising Leader of the Year Award! The Office of Reentry Partnerships celebrates individuals and organizations yearly for their outstanding efforts in supporting reentry and exemplifying leadership in this community. This award honors individuals who have returned to the community from incarceration and are significantly impacting policy changes or excelling in a leadership role in criminal justice reform. Ike is doing all that and more to support young people caught up in the system. Congrats, Ike!

Senator Amanda M. Cappelletti has introduced Senate Bill 1224, aiming to make voice communication services free for incarcerated individuals in Pennsylvania's state and county detention centers. This bill seeks to remove the financial burden from families who spend tens of millions annually to stay connected with their loved ones. At YSRP, we believe that maintaining connection through regular communication is vital, especially for young people who are forced to grow up up behind bars. As our Executive Director Bianca van Heydoorn said, "There are only benefits from incarcerated young people connecting more often and more deeply with their loved ones." 🔗 Read more about SB 1224 and its impact on our community:

The 57th Edition of the AP Stylebook was just released and includes a section on criminal justice and public safety reporting. One of the major changes is the recommendation to use the word "child" instead of "juvenile." YSRP believes that children should be treated like children and that words matter. That’s why we use “child” or “young person” instead of “juvenile” or “offender.” It’s why we tell the story of who a young person is to the courts through our mitigation work.

The United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey Opportunity Summit was filled with generative conversations and inspiration and was a testament to the importance of our collective efforts. We were particularly moved by keynote speaker Xavier McElrath-Bey, Executive Director of the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth (CFSY). Xavier reminded the audience that Philadelphia sentenced more children to life without the possibility of parole than any other city in the country. During his address, he shared the stage with many from the Juvenile Lifer Community - among them were YSRP reentry coordinators and community leaders John Pace and Don "Ike" Jones. It's hard to put into words the power of Xavier's story - to hear him recount the many injustices he overcame left us even more determined to fight for the dignity and healing of our young people. He left us with one phrase to remember: "No child is born bad." Pictured from left to right: YSRP Staff Brandon Fletcher, YSRP Board Member Tyra Virden, YSRP Staff Jessika Brock, Bianca Van Heydoorn, Don "Ike" Jones, John Pace, CFSY Executive Director Xavier McElrath-Bey, MA #YSRP #FairSentencing #CommunityChange #YouthAdvocacy #EndPoverty #ExpandOpportunity

Incarceration is traumatic for children. Full stop. Like clockwork, we hear every few months about abuse in these facilities. This is not many bad apples - it's a rotten tree. Adults working in the system who have caused incredible harm must be held accountable. These allegations are from people comfortable enough to come forward. Every day, we hear from our client-partners about how incarceration harms them. The fear of retribution is real. The system needs real transformation now - not sometime in the future when we can all reach a consensus. https://lnkd.in/gKAt4Yui

Congratulations to the Youth Advocacy Project students for the multiple awards they received from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. And double congrats to YSRP Staff Attorney John Lopez for being awarded Supervisor of the Year for the second year in a row! The Youth Advocacy Project (YAP) brings together law and social work students to support young people charged as adults in the Philadelphia area. Under the supervision of the Youth Sentencing & Reentry Project, YAP direct service fellows draft comprehensive, strength-based reports to minimize each young person’s contact with the carceral system. Know Your Rights fellows visit young people facing adult criminal charges and aim to equip them with the necessary tools to navigate the criminal legal system by communicating information about their rights, the judicial process, and available resources.

Stoneleigh Foundation Visiting Fellow and YSRP Co-Founder Lauren Fine recently published a report on her Participatory Action Research with a small group of young adults (aged 18-24) with lived experience in Philadelphia’s youth justice system. Here are just a few components of what young people are seeking in community-based alternatives to incarceration: - Adults who genuinely care about them, their well-being, goals, and dreams. - Curated guidance from a trusted partner who can connect them to individualized services across issue areas like housing, healthcare, education, and legal support. - A physical space that is safe, welcoming, clean, and youth-friendly - Program staff who are "credible messengers." - Opportunities to earn money while gaining knowledge and skills that will enable them to obtain living-wage employment in their communities. We highly recommend reading the deep well of knowledge and insights shared by the young people in the full report.