Ep 3. Preston

In the third episode of Kids Behind Bars: Life or Parole season 1, viewers are introduced to Preston, a young man who was convicted of murder at the age of 15. Preston has been incarcerated for over a decade and now, as an adult, he has the opportunity to petition for parole. However, the road to freedom is not an easy one for Preston.

The episode begins with an overview of Preston's crime. In 2008, he and several other teenagers got into a fight with another group of young men. The conflict escalated, and one of Preston's acquaintances pulled out a gun and shot and killed one of the other teenagers. Despite claiming that he did not bring the gun and that he did not shoot anyone, Preston was arrested and charged with murder. He was tried and convicted as an adult, and at the age of 16, he was sentenced to life without parole.

For Preston, life behind bars has not been easy. He has spent years in and out of trouble with prison staff, and he has struggled to come to terms with the fact that he may never leave prison alive. However, in recent years, he has made significant progress in his rehabilitation. He has earned his GED and has taken courses in anger management and conflict resolution. He has also been working on repairing his relationship with his family, who have stood by him throughout his incarceration.

As the episode progresses, viewers get a glimpse into the complex legal process that must take place before a prisoner can be considered for parole. Preston's lawyer explains that he will have to convince a judge that he is worthy of a second chance at freedom. To do this, he will need to demonstrate that he has accepted responsibility for his actions, that he has shown remorse, and that he has made concrete plans for his future outside of prison.

Preston is allowed to appear before the parole board in person, and he takes the opportunity to plead his case. He tells the board that he is a changed person, that he regrets his role in the crime, and that he is ready to make a positive contribution to society. He also makes a heartfelt plea to the family of the victim, asking for their forgiveness.

Throughout the episode, there are emotional scenes featuring Preston's family members, who have traveled from out of state to support him at his parole hearing. They speak about their love for Preston and their hopes that he will be given a second chance. Viewers also see the reaction of the family of the victim, who are torn between their desire for justice and their willingness to forgive.

In the end, the episode leaves viewers with a cliffhanger. The parole board is shown deliberating over Preston's fate, but we do not yet know what decision they have reached. The episode is a powerful reminder of the complex social and legal issues surrounding juvenile justice, and it raises important questions about whether it is ethical to sentence young people to life in prison without the possibility of parole.