pictured from L-R: Jim Firgorski, Staff Attorney, Dechert LLP; Marissa Bluestine, Executive Director; Deborah Gross, Chancellor, Philadelphia Bar Association; Lauren Fine, Co-Director, YSRP; Joanna Visser Adjoian, Co-Director, YSRP
The Youth Sentencing & Reentry Project was honored on November 16, 2017 along with the Pennsylvania Innocence Project at a reception hosted by the Philadelphia Bar Association. Bar Association Chancellor Deborah Gross introduced YSRP Co-Directors Joanna Visser Adjoian and Lauren Fine, and PA Innocence Project Executive Director Marissa Bluestine, by sharing the many accomplishments both organizations have recently achieved. YSRP was thrilled to receive this honor alongside many of the men and women who have recently returned home after being sentenced to die in prison when they were children, in addition to many YSRP Board and Advisory Board members. The honor was especially meaningful as many of the reception attendees, lawyers and Bar Association members, were instrumental in sharing guidance and advice YSRP germinated from an idea into an organization. YSRP is grateful to receive this honor and recognition, and was thrilled to celebrate with our community.
YSRP staff gathered on February 1, 2023, to celebrate freedom and commemorate the 7th anniversary of the landmark Montgomery v. Louisiana US Supreme Court decision with former Juvenile Lifers, advocates, and movement leaders.
After a rigorous national search led by YSRP’s Board of Directors and supported by Monday Morning Consultants, YSRP is thrilled to announce Bianca van Heydoorn as the new Executive Director.
On November 22, 2022, PBS Newshour aired a segment spotlighting Pennsylvania's practice of automatically charging children as adults, and the movement to end it.
Care, Not Control: The Album is now available for download! The Album showcases the talents, hopes, and dreams of young people directly impacted by the criminal legal system who are leaders in the campaign.
