Kids Behind Bars: Life or Parole

On January 31, 2011, 14-year-old Aaron shot his neighbor, 14-year-old Alana, in her home in Harlem, Georgia. Aaron was sentenced to life without parole at 15, but now 21-year-old Aaron is appealing his sentence.

On April 10, 1995 in Aurora, Colorado, 15-year-old Curtis was one of four teens involved in the death of Christopher as they attempted to steal his car. Curtis was sentenced to life in prison without parole. After 23 years in jail, Curtis has been granted a resentencing and could soon be released.

On March 4, 2010, 17-year-old Preston was one of three teens involved in the murder of Christopher during an attempted robbery in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Along with the other teens, Preston was sentenced to life without parole. Now at the age of 25, he has been granted a resentencing hearing.

On March 7, 1992, 15-year-old Bobby shot girlfriend Krissi's mother and father as they slept in their home in Frisco, Texas. Roz was killed, but her husband Buz survived. Bobby was sentenced to life despite claims he was manipulated into committing the murder. He now hopes to appeal his sentence.

On August 21, 2001, a group of teens, including 15-year-old Brandon, kidnapped and raped Melissa, a 21-year-old college student in Youngstown, Ohio. Brandon was tried as an adult and sentenced to 141 years in prison without parole. Seventeen years later the Ohio Supreme Court agreed that Brandon's sentence is the equivalent of life without parole and therefore unconstitutional. He has been granted the opportunity for a new sentence.

On November 24, 1990, 15-year-old James killed his stepmother and three young brothers with a shotgun, and then set their rural Wyoming home on fire. It was a crime the small town of Thermopolis would never forget. Twenty-seven years later, James' legal team is arguing that his original sentence is unconstitutional and that he should be resentenced.

Shelton Jackson was 17 when he was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murder of Thomas Maynard, who tragically left behind a week-old baby boy. Now 48, Jackson has been granted a resentencing hearing that could result in his release, something Maynard's widow Leesa vehemently opposes.

Dana Barker was only 17 when she killed her former stepmother Brenda in 1994. Back then, the court failed to consider the role of her father Joe in the crime, and the circumstances that led her to murder. Now 44, Dana is fighting for a resentencing hearing, although the state of Oklahoma maintains her case does not qualify for consideration.

17-year-old Deon Haynes was sentenced to life in prison for killing former classmate Christy Davis in her home. Now 47, Deon has been granted a resentencing hearing, but his continued claim of innocence has brought his capacity for rehabilitation into question.

16-year-old William Najar shot and killed Michael Decker, who was camping in the Phoenix desert. Now 38, Najar is facing an upcoming resentencing hearing.

What drives a teenage boy to kill his own father? Justin Long was only 15 years old when he violently killed his adoptive father, Hoyt Long. Justin believes he finally snapped after years of corporal punishment.

Malcolm Thrower was 17 when he stabbed and killed Marilyn Russell, a neighborhood woman who had offered to help the homeless teen. Now 28 and serving a life without parole sentence, Malcolm hopes to earn an opportunity for a reduced sentence, and forgiveness from Marilyn’s family.