"They Call Us Monsters" is a film that follows and captures the lives and crimes of three young minors: Antonio, Jarard and Juan; all face life imprisonment for crimes they have committed. It not only covers the lives of three individuals, but also touches on sensitive topics: juveniles tried as adults, juvenile laws, rehabilitation versus alleged treatment, and Proposition 57. The recent passage of Proposition 57 also known as Senate Bill 260 allows consideration of parole for nonviolent offenders, those with good behavior and rehabilitative records, Proposition 57 ultimately changed state law and requires judges to make a final decision on whether juveniles should be tried as juveniles or now. How prosecutors file to charge minors as adults must participate in a process known as fitness. Get an original essay The first person we meet is Antonio, who was arrested at the age of 14. Antonio was accused of 2 attempted murders and risked 90 years to life. Before his imprisonment, Antonio was an honor roll student and seemed like the perfect student until his arrest. He goes on to say that he felt no remorse for the things he had done. During the interview he stated that if he wanted he could have joined a military branch, he seemed very sure of it; however, this was not the case. The moment he was released after winning his appeal he returned to his old habits, throwing away the opportunity to redeem himself in the eyes of the public. This made me question our criminal justice system. Is the justice system failing juveniles? Are they doing enough? If he had been required to attend a rehabilitation program or had a mentor, I firmly believe he could have been reformed. As for Jarad, Jarad was facing 200 years to life for attempted murder. Throughout the film, I noticed that Jarad had a defense 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 and who mentioned that his fears were darkness, loneliness and Jarad was afraid of snakes and when he was pushed further, he diverted the question or started laughing. Going into more detail about his case, we learn that his victim is a 17-year-old woman who is permanently confined to a wheelchair due to the shooting. It is truly an unfortunate event and I understand the gravity of the crime, but I do not agree with the 164 year sentence that was given to him. It was too excessive and I can only imagine what he will have to face and what he will be exposed to in prison. I was not only shocked by the sentence he received, but also by his defense attorney. It did absolutely nothing! I can't wrap my head around the fact that he took an unqualified case. A DUI 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 opportunity for a second chance. The third minor we meet is Juan, arrested at 17 for first degree murder. Juan faced 2 life sentences and deportation to his home country, El Salvador. Juan seemed like a kind-hearted person despite being awaiting trial for a heinous crime like murder. As he talked about his relationship with his father he helped me understand why he chose the path he did. He said he felt 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 words coming from a ruthless murder, but from a troubled young man who has been deprived of his father's love. Although I believe that young people should take responsibility and learn that there are consequences for their actions, it is extremely important to understand that they are psychologically different from adults. It is also vital to understand that each young person has endured and experienced different experiences that have shaped them into the person they have become, but that does not necessarily mean they cannot change. I firmly believe for the most part that these "monsters" have the ability to change. They should have the opportunity to demonstrate 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 moving forward, which is why rehab programs are extremely vital. If Antonio had not been released into a dysfunctional situation (no family support or stable home), but rather received guidance, counseling, and was required to participate in a youth program, I highly doubt he would have ended up in the same situation. In the film, there were a couple of moments where he said he wanted a change but, unfortunately, his circumstances pushed him down the wrong path. It is tremendously 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. So many factors play into that decision: circumstances, upbringing, severity of the crime, possibility of rehabilitation... what if these kids were doomed to failure from the moment they were brought into this world or did they have everything to succeed in life? So, should juveniles 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 affect a child's entire future 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 help the problem. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay When dealing with juvenile delinquency, you need to familiarize yourself with the concept and truly understand what it means. It is critical to recognize the importance of intersectionality, or the interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, class, and gender as they apply to a given individual or 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, J.M. (Editor). (2016). They Call Us Monsters [documentary film]. American documentary | POV.Colgan, B., & Kyckelhahn, T. (2016). Juvenile offenders and victims: National Report 2014. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Feld, B. C. (2017). Bad boys: Race and the transformation of juvenile court. Oxford University Press. Fritsch, E. J., Caeti, T. J., & Taylor, T. J. (2010). The disproportionate impact of juvenile justice proceedings on minority youth. Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, 8(4), 283-303. Grisso, T. (2008). Adolescent delinquents with mental disorders. The Future of Children, 18(2), 143-164.Hoge, R.D., & Andrews, D.A. (2011). Inventory of.