Saving youth sentenced to life without parole from death by incarceration
ASRS
Is Advancing Youth JustiCE
Empowering Second Chances
ASRS facilitates reentry services for former Juvenile Lifers, including healthcare, housing, employment, and education. Harnessing the experiences of team members who once faced death by incarceration as children, ASRS engages with at-risk youth to avert them from paths leading to the criminal justice system.
OUR VISION
ASRS draws on the real-life experiences of people involved with the justice system—especially young people—to:
● Debunk the "super predator" myth
● Advocate for fair and age-appropriate sentencing
● Support the health and well-being of those reentering society after long-term incarceration
● Recognize the valuable insights of individuals impacted by the school-to-prison pipeline in creating solutions for society
Juvenile Lifers: Path To Freedom
Release, reentry and transition. We help our clients open up and rebuild trust. Our teams are deeply committed to creating success and bringing out the best in each person. We provide the necessary direction and resources to get life started.
Defense Consulting
Sentencing Mitigation
Re-entry Services
Programs
ASRS leads a multidisciplinary legal defense team, including mitigation specialists collaborating with public defense attorneys to support juvenile lifers during resentencing hearings. This initiative is in response to the U.S. Supreme Court rulings in Montgomery v. Louisiana and Miller v. Alabama, as well as subsequent Michigan Supreme Court decisions expanding resentencing to those who committed offenses at age 18 or were sentenced to life with parole for crimes committed as youth.
Chelsea Richardson, Mitigation Specialist Supervisor for the Michigan State Appellate Defender Office (SADO) Juvenile Lifer Unit (JLU), emphasizes the unique value of ASRS: "Formerly incarcerated individuals, particularly former juvenile lifers, offer invaluable insights and expertise that enhance the legal defense team's understanding of prison culture, Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) policies, and the reentry process."
Engagement
ASRS employs former juvenile lifers as reentry specialists and engages individuals with school-to-prison pipeline experiences as peer mentors for at-risk youth.
Support Our Work
We invite you to support ASRS through regular donations, sponsorship, or funding to help us continue our mission of advocacy and reentry support!
Founder and CEO
Edward Sanders
Edward Sanders, also known as Cairo Barakah, LLMSW, is the Founder and CEO of ASRS and currently serves as an Entrepreneur in Residence at Washtenaw Community College's Entrepreneurship Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Sentenced to life without parole at 17, Barakah served 43 ½ years (1975-2017) before his release. Following his reentry, he earned a Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan in 2020.
Get Connected
ASRS has the resources to help incarcerated persons get the help and advocacy that they need.
For Attorneys
ASRS team approach is consistent with The Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth (CFSY) drafted Trial Defense Guidelines that have received endorsements from national organizations as noted here.
ASRS facilitates sentencing mitigation & reentry services
Wayne County Indigent Defense Service Department Expert Reference List
(see pg. 22 Edward Sanders)
Community Partners
For Schools, Community Centers and Places of Worship ASRS utilizes former adolescents with school to prison pipeline experiences as peer counselors with at risk youth.
Funders and Corporate Sponsors
Sponsor one of ASRS's programs:
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Former Juvenile Lifers working as interns assisting attorneys representing children in adult courts.
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Former adolescents with school to prison pipeline experiences as peer counselors with at risk youth.
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Comprehensive reentry resources including housing, employment, and reentry workshops.