“They Call Us Monsters” is a film that follows and captures the lives and crimes of three young juveniles: Antonio, Jarard and Juan; all of whom are sentenced to life imprisonment for the crimes they committed. It not only covers the lives of three individuals, but also touches on sensitive topics: juveniles tried as adults, juvenile laws, rehabilitation versus putative treatment, and Proposition 57. The recent passage of Proposition 57 , also known as the Senate bill. Proposition 260 allows for the possibility of parole for non-violent offenders, for those with good behavior and rehabilitation outcomes. Proposition 57 ultimately changed state law and requires judges to make a final decision on whether juveniles should be tried as such or now tried as adults. adults must participate in a process known as fitness. Say No to Plagiarism Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay The first person we meet is Antonio, who was arrested when he was 14 years old. Antonio was accused of 2 attempted murders and faced 90 years in prison. Before his imprisonment, Antonio was on the honor roll and seemed to be the perfect student until his arrest. He goes on to say that he had no remorse for the things he had done. As the interview went on, he said that if he wanted to, he could join a military branch, he seemed so sure of it; however, this was not the case. As soon as he was released after winning his appeal, he returned to his old ways, wasting the opportunity to redeem himself in the public eye. This made me question our criminal justice system. Is the justice system failing minors? Are they doing enough? If he had had to go through a rehabilitation program or had a mentor, I firmly believe he could have been reformed. As far as Jarad was concerned, Jarad was facing 200 years to life in prison for attempted murder. Throughout the film, I noticed that Jarad had a certain defensive mechanism whenever he felt uncomfortable in a situation or topic he didn't like. For example, in the film the young people were asked what they were afraid of and unlike Antonio, who mentioned that his fears were darkness, loneliness, and Jarad was afraid of snakes and when he was pushed more away, he deflected the question or started laughing. As we delve deeper into his case, we learn that his victim is a 17-year-old woman who is permanently confined to a wheelchair due to the shooting. This is truly an unfortunate event and I understand the seriousness of the offense, but I do not agree with the 164 year sentence he received. It was too excessive and I can only imagine what he will face and be exposed to in prison. I was not only shocked by the sentence he received, but also by his lawyer. She did absolutely nothing! I can't understand how she accepted a case without being qualified. A drunk driving case and an attempted murder case are two completely different things in my opinion. I couldn't help but feel sad for Jarad after his nightmare came true. He was given a long sentence, denying him the chance for a second chance. The third minor we meet is Juan, arrested at the age of 17 for first degree murder. Juan faced 2 life sentences and deportation to his home country, El Salvador. Juan seemed to bea very generous person even though he was awaiting trial for a heinous crime like murder. When he talked about his relationship with his father, it helped me understand why he chose this path. He mentioned feeling left out and unloved because his older brother was the favorite. As a result, he promised himself to be better than his brother: “I was. I was better than him, in the gang,” Juan said. These are not the words coming from a cold-hearted murder but from a troubled miner deprived of his father's love. Although I believe that minors should take responsibility and learn that their actions have consequences, it is extremely important to understand that they are psychologically different from adults. It is also essential to understand that each minor has endured and lived through different experiences that have shaped them into the person they have become, but that does not necessarily mean they cannot change. I firmly believe that for the most part, these “monsters” have the capacity to change. They should be given the opportunity to prove that they have overcome their past (even if Antonio's behavior indicates otherwise). Rehab is not for everyone but only for those who truly seek it and want to grow and improve in the future, which is why rehab programs are extremely essential. If Antonio had not been released into a dysfunctional situation (no family support or stable home), but instead had been given counseling, counseling, and forced to join a youth program, I highly doubt he would found himself in the same situation. In the film, he mentioned a few times that he wanted a change, but unfortunately his situation caused him to go down the wrong path. It is extremely difficult to say who should be tried as an adult or what should be considered fair or not, because no two cases are the same. Many factors come into play in such a decision: circumstances, education, the seriousness of the crime, the possibilities of rehabilitation... if these children were doomed to failure from birth or if they were given everything to succeed in the life ? So, should minors be tried as adults? Well, these are all tough questions with no exact answers in my opinion. Difficult questions that judges, prosecutors and probation officers face every day. Their decision will shape a miner's entire life – lives like those of Jarad and Juan. If we want to see change in our community, we need to get involved. We can't have an "us versus them" attitude, because that certainly won't solve the problem. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay When it comes to juvenile delinquency, one must become familiar with the concept and truly understand what it means. It is essential to recognize the importance of intersectionality, that is, the interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, class and gender, as they apply to an individual or to a given group. By understanding these concepts and understanding the social context in which minors live; we, as individuals, parents and educators, have a responsibility to help young people become strong, intellectual and productive adults. Works Cited Chavez, JM (director). (2016). They call us monsters [Documentary film]. American documentary | POV. Colgan, B. and Kyckelhahn, T. (2016). Juvenile offenders and victims: 2014 national report. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Feld, British Columbia (2017). Bad kids: Race and.