The documentary "They Call Us Monsters" tells the inside story of a segregated unit for juveniles tried as adults in the Sylmar Juvenile Hall and features three teenagers awaiting trial where they spend their days and nights waiting to learn their fate for their violent and gang-related crimes. A screenwriter offers to run a writing workshop for young people where they will work together for a duration of 20 weeks to produce a script for a screenplay which they will direct as part of their rehabilitation process. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The film also focuses on the California legislature's attempt to reform laws that give juvenile offenders a chance out of prison. During the film, something that immediately caught my attention was the fact that when the guys collaborated to develop the script for the screenplay, Juan and Jarad shared stories of their personal experiences rather than what they claimed to be their friends. It was interesting to me that they were very open with their emotions on camera but were unwilling to reveal themselves as the identity of the individuals they were discussing in their stories. The writing workshop allowed the children to express themselves. Furthermore, it was evident that Juan and Jarad felt proud and fulfilled by the work they had invested in writing and directing this screenplay. I found it quite shocking to me that Antonio was in better shape physically and mentally inside the facility when he was serving his sentence than when he got out and this has led to speculation as to whether Juan or Jarad would have better benefited from the opportunity if they had been presented or had caused similar disappointment. Antonio was released into a dysfunctional situation, his family had just received an eviction notice for their home and he fell back into his old habits of using marijuana and other drugs according to his brother, which ultimately led him to reoffend . Jarad went through the traumatic experience of seeing his stepfather attempt suicide, while Juan grew up with the feeling of not being accepted by his father and with the constant feeling of being in competition with his brother with the need to prove himself to be superior. of the two. Another cause for concern was that Jarad's mother already knew before her son's arrest that Jarad was getting into big trouble, but she did not have the resources to help her son since law enforcement had basically informed her that they wouldn't be able to care for her son until later. he was arrested for committing a crime. In this part of the film, it occurred to me that this is a perfect example as the rehabilitation process can begin long before a crime of any kind is committed. In California, juveniles between the ages of 14 and 17 can be tried as adults and receive sentences longer than their natural life expectancy. Antonio, Juan and Jarad all face more than 90 years in prison for attempted murder or first-degree murder. The film indicates that young people are different from adults in more ways than one. According to Richard Bloom, young people lack impulsive control, judgment, and the ability to access risk and consequences. Adult prison systems are responsible for punishing offenders while the juvenile system is responsible for rehabilitating minors, but it does not necessarily work that way. By handing out possible life sentences it gives the impression that the.