Ep 7. Otis

In season 1 episode 7 of Kids Behind Bars: Life or Parole, we meet Otis, a young man who has been incarcerated since he was a teenager. Otis was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for a crime he committed when he was just 16 years old.

Otis has now spent over a decade behind bars and has been given a second chance at life thanks to a recent change in the law. In 2012, the Supreme Court ruled that sentencing juveniles to life in prison without the possibility of parole was unconstitutional, and Otis now has the opportunity to be re-sentenced and possibly released.

However, Otis must first convince a parole board that he is no longer a danger to society and that he has taken steps to rehabilitate himself during his time in prison. Otis's case is complicated by the fact that he is serving time in a state that has been slow to adjust to the Supreme Court's ruling and has yet to implement a consistent process for re-sentencing juvenile offenders.

As we follow Otis's journey through the re-sentencing process, we hear from his family and loved ones, who describe the toll that his incarceration has taken on them. We also hear from Otis himself, who reflects on his past mistakes and the hope that he has for his future.

Throughout the episode, we see the parole board grapple with the difficult task of evaluating whether Otis is truly remorseful for his actions and whether he is capable of making a positive contribution to society outside of prison. Ultimately, it is up to the board to decide whether Otis will be given a second chance at life or whether he will continue to serve out his sentence behind bars.

This episode of Kids Behind Bars: Life or Parole offers a nuanced and thought-provoking look at the complex issues surrounding juvenile justice and the re-sentencing of young offenders. Through Otis's story, we see the human consequences of a broken system and the potential for meaningful change when we confront these issues head-on.