https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osLL-kgsh7c 

Psychology of Criminal Behavior

Documentary Analysis Assignment

The Kids Serving 50+ Years For Murder (Prison Documentary) | Our Life

Assignment Directions:
After viewing the documentary, respond thoughtfully and completely to each of the questions below. Your responses should demonstrate critical thinking and should draw upon concepts discussed in our course whenever appropriate. Remember that explaining or understanding criminal behavior does not mean excusing or condoning the behavior.

Please note: Each question involves critical thinking, reflection and personal opinion. The task is to reflect and examine from the individual case analysis → your emotional response → a psychological interpretation → thoughts on rehabilitation → and broader questions of juvenile culpability.  

Rubric: You can find the rubrics under the rubrics tab in the navigation pane.

Completion time:  Approximately 2 hours (45 minute video included).   

Questions

1. Jesus
Consider Jesus's story, including the circumstances surrounding his offense, his background, his age at the time of the offense, and his experiences within the juvenile program. Do you believe that Jesus's individual offense warranted his being tried as an adult? Do you agree with the sentence he received, or do you believe the sentence was too severe or too lenient? Why or why not? In your response, consider factors that may be relevant to psychological development and criminal responsibility.

2. Blake Layman
Consider Blake Layman's story and the circumstances surrounding his offense. Do you believe that Blake's individual offense warranted his being tried as an adult? Do you agree with the sentence he received, or do you believe the sentence was too severe or too lenient? Why or why not? Consider his age at the time of the offense and any developmental, psychological, social, or environmental factors presented in the documentary that may have influenced his behavior.

3. Marquis Lee
Consider Marquis Lee's story and the circumstances surrounding his offense. Do you believe that Marquis's individual offense warranted his being tried as an adult? Do you agree with the sentence he received, or do you believe the sentence was too severe or too lenient? Why or why not? Support your position using information presented in the documentary as well as concepts related to juvenile development and criminal behavior.

4. Emotional Reactions and Empathy
What emotions did you experience while hearing the stories of Jesus, Blake Layman, and Marquis Lee? Were there aspects of any of their stories that moved you, changed your perception of them, or caused you to feel empathy toward them? Explain what specifically prompted those reactions.

At the same time, consider whether feeling empathy for an offender is different from agreeing with or excusing the offender's behavior. Explain your thoughts.

5. Comparing the Three Young Men
After hearing all three stories, what similarities and differences did you notice among Jesus, Blake Layman, and Marquis Lee? Consider their backgrounds, developmental circumstances, relationships, decision-making, behavior, attitudes toward their offenses, and responses to incarceration.

Do you think the factors contributing to their criminal behavior were primarily individual, social/environmental, or some combination of the two? Explain your reasoning.

6. The Role of the Counselor
What was your perception of the counselor who worked with these young offenders? What did you notice about the way the counselor interacted with them and approached their behavior?

Based on what you observed, would counseling or another helping profession be a professional role you could see yourself pursuing one day? Why or why not? What personal qualities do you think would be necessary to work effectively with individuals who have committed serious crimes?

7. Rehabilitation vs. Punishment
The documentary provides an opportunity to consider the purposes of incarceration. Based on what you observed, do you believe that programs such as this one should focus primarily on punishment, rehabilitation, public safety, or some combination of these goals?

Explain your position and discuss whether you believe rehabilitation is possible for individuals who committed serious offenses as juveniles.

8. Juvenile vs. Adult Criminal Responsibility
After watching the documentary, has your perspective on trying juveniles as adults changed in any way? Why or why not?

What psychological or developmental differences between adolescents and adults do you believe should be considered when determining criminal responsibility and sentencing?

9. Something That Surprised You
Did anything about the documentary surprise, challenge, or contradict your expectations about juvenile offenders, murder, incarceration, or the criminal justice system?

Describe what surprised you and explain why you think you had that expectation beforehand.

10. Final Reflection
Overall, what do you believe the documentary was trying to communicate about young people who commit serious crimes and subsequently receive lengthy adult sentences?

After viewing the documentary, do you believe that a person's capacity for change should be considered when determining a sentence for a serious offense committed during adolescence? Explain your position.

Finally, identify one thing you learned from the documentary that you believe you will remember beyond this course.