. >> reporter: davis sits behind bars in crestville illinois. now a nationwide movement to rethink the juvenile just of justice system and right old wrongs. >> i'm always going to have hope that you know my day will come. >> reporter: in the summer of 2012 davis found a new reason for hope. buried under news of the presidential campaign in the case called miller versus alabama, the u.s. supreme court issued a landmark ruling. mandatory life without parole sentences for juveniles were declared unconstitutional. the real question was whether it was mandatory or whether the judges and juries should be allowed to consider mitigating factors like a person's role in a crime or a person's upbringing. patricia's son works for loyola center for juvenile policy and his supervising attorney. >> no court considered the youth, the characteristics that come with youth, the facts of the offense, the specific role they played in the offense. >> on this point the court was clear. a child's circumstances matter and it is cruel and unusual punishment to impose man