The brothers who murdered their parents in a crime case that shocked the country back in the ’90s are recently making the news due to a delayed hearing about being released on parole. The LA County district attorney has taken Kim Kardashian, the entrepreneur, influencer, and current law student, to reconsider the life sentence for the Menendez brothers.
The murders in the Beverly Hills mansion of Kitty and Jose Menendez in 1989 have recently become a popular Netflix series ¨Monsters¨. Some people look more into the Menendez brothers’ case and see their story to find a way to get them freed from the documentary or other news.
The Menendez brothers’ case continues to be a source of debate, even years after their conviction for murdering their parents and lying about their crime, which many people question if they made up the abuse claims. They were sentenced to life in prison without parole. Still, many are questioning whether that punishment and sentence really fit the crime, especially since their troubled childhood, major abuse, and the time they’ve already served in prison which was said to be about 35 years.
Their childhood was far from ideal; particularly the evidence of abuse, both physical, emotional, and probably mental, at the hands of both their parents and others. Especially regarding the younger brother Erik, it was said that he started the plan to commit the crimes, maybe because he felt most invisible due to negelect.
This raises questions about the trauma and how it impacts misbehavior and whether their actions were a reaction to desperate and hidden suffering.
They’ve spent a significant portion of their lives in prison. For approximately 35+ years, not only were the brothers in prison, but the brothers were split to separate locations and weren’t able to see or call each other. They were only able to communicate with letters. The length of their sentences leads many and me to believe that they’ve paid a great price for their actions, which is why the case has grown so famous. But it also asks us to consider what else could be done.
The idea of rehabilitation is central to our justice systems. After such an immense amount of time in prison, many believe years in a rehabilitation setting that addresses the mental health problems would set the brothers right for society.
The Menendez brothers became super popular since the 2022 Netflix show. Even though a lot of people and the brothers themselves say that the Netflix show was inaccurate, a lot of people wish the brothers to gain their freedom because the show presents the brothers’ point of view and how they feel about what they’ve done.
Arguments also surround the fairness of their trial. Some people argue that their defense wasn’t effective enough. This, of course, raises discussions about legal representation and how equal access to justice isn’t always a reality.
The Menendez brother case isn’t just about a single crime. It’s also about the continuing effects of unhealed trauma and the meaning of justice. Most child psychologists say that untreated trauma and childhood can lead to unhealthy events in the future. The debate following their potential release forces us to consider these factors and how they hold our understanding of the justice system.
It asks us to ask whether a life sentence, especially without parole, especially if the brothers do good behavior in prison, I think that they should at least be able to get temporary freedom. We should truly address the issues rather than just punish the people who are also victims.
While some still feel strongly against the brothers, it is important to consider a more broad perspective. Supporters aren’t just seeking to free these two men; they want them to get full justice. This justice allows for an in-depth understanding of the circumstances that led the two brothers to engage in criminal activities.
The brothers received life sentences in prison without the possibility of parole, but an approach focusing on rehabilitation could have been more beneficial. They should have access to programs that emphasize psychological support and therapy.
I’d say that offering rehabilitation instead of a life sentence would allow for the possibility of gradual reintegration into society providing the brothers with a chance to transform their lives positively. Genuinely I believe that focusing on rehabilitation could have set a precedent for addressing the broader issues of mental health and childhood trauma within the judicial systems.
Society has to ask itself when holding onto harsh punishment for so long, is it truly serving justice or simply perpetuating a cycle of vengeance? Life behind bars isn’t just about punishment, it should also focus on rehabilitation and hope for the future and I hope the Menendez brothers get their justice, because I don’t believe they’re a threat to society and everyone deserves a second chance.
