Second Chance Kids

Megan Pohler                                                        

9/22/2017 

In 2012 the Supreme Court ruled that it was unconstitutional to have juveniles serve a mandatory life sentence without a chance for parole. The documentary follows two people convicted of crime as juveniles that were given life sentences. The first person examined is Anthony Rolon who was convicted of murder at 17 in 1997. Due to an altercation at a party Rolon stabbed Robert Botelho three times and eventually died do to the third stab that had hit his heart. Rolon was given life without parole, as well as many others as the crackdown on "super predators"; teenagers who were labeled violent, dangerous and incapable of change, began.  

The second person examined is Joe Donovan who was incarcerated at 17 for a murder he didn't commit. While robbing and assaulting a student at MIT the student was stabbed and killed. It turns out that a 15-year-old did the stabbing. But he was charged as a juvenile because it would still be a number of years before kids that young could be tried as adults in Massachusetts. But Donovan was 19 and was involved in a physical altercation with, as well. He would cut a plea deal and be out in 12 years. That left Joe Donovan alone to face first degree murder charges. To convict Donovan, the prosecution put forth evidence at trial showing Donovan knowingly planned and participated in an armed robbery, which started with his punch. In the course of a robbery, the murder took place, according to the prosecution.  

The idea that there is such a thing as a "super predator" is baffling. To be fair there needs to be an extreme examination of someone before labeling them as someone who is dangerous as well as being incapable of change. It's one thing for someone relentlessly stabbing someone and being sent to life in prison but someone who punched another person being labelled as a super predator is ridiculous! Mandatory life sentences should be thoroughly examined, there are adults who commit rape and child molestation and yet only serve a maximum of ten years. These people are a threat to society and are scientifically done maturing and yet teenagers are being placed behind bars for life that are no longer a threat to society.  

I'm glad that the supreme court ruled that it was unconstitutional. I believe that most people if given a second chance at life will take it. No one is incapable of change even if it's a slight change it's still change.