Lost for Life Annmarie Brady Bailey Wills Julie

Lost for Life Annmarie Brady Bailey Wills Julie Meyer Dale Farrow-Harris Kaitlyn Smith

Summary Plot: Personal interviews with adults who committed murder as teens and have been sentenced to life without parole Topic of discussion: Is it constitutional to give teens life sentences without a chance for parole? Setting: Hometowns of the murders and in jails from the 1990 s through 2012 Characters: ● Brian; 21 years old ○ Murdered classmate at 16 ● Torey; 21 years old ○ Co murderer with Brian at 16 ○ Brian and Torey planned the murder of their classmate together ● Sean; 38 years old ○ Committed gang murder at 17 ○ Released

Examples of positive social change The Passage of the Supreme Court case Miller v Alabama (2012) This case was discussed in the movie as it stated that sentencing juveniles to life without a chance at parole violated the 8 th amendment as it was cruel and unusual punishment “Banned mandatory life sentences without parole for those under 18. It is left to lower courts and each state to decide their fate. ” This is an example of positive social change because it helps correct the wrongs within the criminal justice system and gives those convicted a chance at rehabilitation

Examples of community outreach In the movie, parents of teenagers who committed murder formed a group called “Loved Ones of Juvenile Lifers Support Group” The families come together to discuss the implications of how the murders have impacted their lives and to express and share their feelings in a safe environment Additionally, the family and some siblings visited their loved ones in jail, keeping their connections to the outside world This group of families advocates that if a juvenile has shown remorse and a change in their behavior, they deserve a second chance

Examples of social advocacy Sean was granted parole as he became a role model for inmates, and when released on parole dedicated his life to education of gangs and gang violence to at risk youth https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=i. X 0 BYh. GRIx 4 52: 40 Children's Welfare & Recognition of Abuse - Jacob had tried to reach out and get help for the abuse that he faced and no one would listen - If the signs of abuse are recognized and there is intervention in a child’s life, then crimes like Jacob’s and Josiah’s can be prevented

Social advocacy (continued) In order to suppress the commonality of crime, the influences that cause a person to resort to these crimes need to be examined & stopped ● 79% of the juveniles witnessed domestic violence ● Less than half attended school at the time of their crime ● 70% are diagnosed with mental disorders ● Often involved with gangs in poor areas ● 47% were physically abused ● 80% of girls had histories of physical abuse & 77% faced sexual abuse These patterns were evident in the film (Jacob faced abuse and sexual assault, Sean was in the “Bloods” gang, Josiah faced sexual abuse by the

Examples of service After his release, Sean makes it his mission to do whatever he can to stop teens from making the same mistakes he did https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=i. X 0 BYh. GRIx 4 1: 07: 05 -1: 09: 10

What parts are outdated? There have been some new developments within the justice system Montgomery v Louisiana (2016) - states can remedy the unconstitutionality of mandatory juvenile life without parole sentences by permitting parole hearings rather than a resentencing This is significant as it allows for parole hearings sentenced prior to the passage of Graham v Florida, as some states ruled that Graham was not retroactive Life without parole is still sentenced to youth, but not nearly as often due to Montgomery v Louisiana

What parts did you connect with the most? Being that all of the interviewes were around our age when they committed the crime, this movie put into perspective that the decisions we make daily do impact our lives. Although our actions are not as extreme as murder, as we enter adulthood, we often make poor choices trying to achieve our identities The importance of considering the impact we can make in other people's lives was also emphasized in this movie. Going out of our way to make another person’s life better can truly make a difference. For example, by showing kindness and humanity to someone, they may second guess committing a crime they originally were intent on carrying out

Critiques A more clear focus on the discussion of the court case Miller v Alabama could have strengthened the understanding of how this impacted juveniles serving life without parole If a lawyer was interviewed in this movie to speak of the result of the case and how it would impact the justice system it would have brought more clarity to the issue They could have been more clear when they were switching interview topics as well as when they were explaining Josiah’s story and his crime

Who would benefit from watching the film? At risk youth would benefit from watching this film Especially the moments when the inmates say that they would “take it all back” if they had another shot at life Josiah “I made terrible decisions. . . they're the worst I’ve ever made. I've had to live with those ever since. There are so many things I should have done differently. . . I'm so sorry. ” The general public also benefits from this film. By gaining awareness of the controversies of the social justice system, more people can advocate for alterations to mandatory life sentences. Society can learn more about & support other citizens, changing the world for the better. People who may have lost a loved one to a similar cause

What course of action does this film call for or encourage This film calls for a re-evaluation of the sentencing of juveniles as adults and the consequences that can occur from life sentences without parole The film emphasizes the need for the rehabilitation of youth who face tragedies such as abuse. Had juveniles such as Josiah and Jacob received the help they needed, they may not have killed their parents out of revenge for the physical and emotional pain that had been inflicted upon them.