Congress is set to reauthorize the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, originally passed in 1974. The law established a set of protections for juvenile offenders; state and local governments that adhere to its guidelines are eligible for federal funding to maintain and improve its juvenile justice facilities. As lawmakers review the bill, they should take into serious consideration research that demonstrates the negative effects the criminal justice system has on offenders and, ultimately, society. An improved act should include provisions that prevent courts from treating minors like adults. Instead, the courts should be urged to find alternative methods that ensure these youth offenders are able to return to society as productive, law-abiding citizens.
A recent report, written by Michele Deitch, an attorney with over 23 years experience working on criminal justice policy issues, demonstrates why the adult criminal justice system is a poor, and often dangerous, place for young offenders. Every year, nearly 80 young offenders 13 and younger are transferred to adult court, mostly for what are considered minor offenses. While held in adult facilities, these youth face a higher risk of both physical and sexual assault. The younger the child, the more at risk they are. Often, the decisions about whether or not a young offender will be treated as an adult are made with racial and other biases.
The U.S., as it is with most aspects of the criminal justice system, is behind the times when it comes to the way it treats its youth offenders. According to the report, most countries, even those considered among the worst of human rights violators, do not try young children as adults and do not give them long sentences. And with good reason: young children sentences to adult jails often return to society more violent than they left, only to end up back in jail, this time for more serious crimes.
In 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional to sentence a youth under the age of 18 to the death penalty. Justices in support of the ruling felt these young minds were not mature enough to fully appreciate the consequences of their actions. That decision was a big step in toward creating a justice system that works to rehabilitate youth offenders. Now, Congress has the opportunity to build upon the Court’s ruling when it reworks the Act.
Young offenders should be tried and convicted within the juvenile justice system and laws that call for the mandatory transfer of juveniles to adult court should be removed from the books. These young people should be housed in safe, juvenile facilities. In addition to education, counseling should be mandatory for these young offenders. Connecting them with mentors, who can guide them as they leave the system, is also critical.
The way the U.S. currently approaches crime, particularly the crime of juvenile offenders, does not work. It has been shown to actually foster criminality, not prevent it. It is time that new approaches are used to ensure these young people return to society ready to contribute. Doing so will contribute to a reduction in crime, creating safer neighborhoods for everyone.
HELLO JUDGE MATHIS, I LOVE YOUR SHOW! YOU ARE SO AWESOME AND FUNNY! I TRIED PUTTING THIS UNDER THE ASK MATHIS BUT IT WOULDN’T LET ME SO I JUST PUT IT HERE. I’M A 31YR OLD WITH 3 SMALL KIDS 8,7,2. 4MONTHS AFTER TURNING 18 I WAS WITH THIS GUY WHO ROBBED A LOT OF PEOPLE. HE WAS 17. I WENT TO JAIL. MY MOM COULD NOT AFFORD A LAWYER, I SERVED 2YRS AND THEN WAS SENTENCED TO AN 8AT30 AND SERVED 1 MORE YR AT THE PRISON.NEVER BEEN IN TROUBLE . THE JUDGE LET ME KNOW THAT HE WAS GONNA MAKE AN EXAMPLE OUT OF ME BECAUSE HE WAS TIRED OF YOUNG PEOPLE COMING INTO HIS COURT RM. HE WOULD NOT LOWER MY BOND. WELL AFTER SERVING THE TIME I ALSO COMPLETED 4YRS OF PAROLE. I FIGURED AFTER ALL THAT WAS OVER WITH I COULD MOVE ON WITH MY LIFE AND PUT IT BEHIND ME. BOY WAS I WRONG! I CANT FIND JOB!!! I MEAN IVE WORKED HERE AND THERE BUT ITS GETTING EVEN MORE DIFFICULT FOR SOMEONE TO HIRE ME BECAUSE OF MY BACKGROUND. NOW I REALLY BELIEVE IN THE SAYING ..IT AIN’T WHAT YOU KNOW ITS WHO YOU KNOW..BUT I DON’T NOW ANYONE. BUT IT JUST SEEMS THAT THAT IS THE ONLY WAY THAT I CAN FIND A JOB BECAUSE BY LOOKING AT ME YOU WOULD NOT EVEN THINK I WOULD HAVE A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND. SO MY QUE IS..IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO HIDE IT??? IVE LOST CONFIDENCE IN MYSELF OVER THE YEARS BECAUSE OF IT, I STILL HAVE BIG DREAMS BUT I JUST DON’T SEE HOW THEY CAN COME TRUE WITH THIS FELONY. I WANT SO MUCH MORE FOR MYSELF AND MY CHILDREN. IVE ALWAYS WANTED TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND GET A DEGREE BUT I THINK OF THE FELONY AND THERE GOES MY HOPES OUT THE WINDOW BECAUSE I JUST THINK NO ONE WILL HIRE ME BECAUSE OF IT, NO MATTER IF I WENT TO SCHOOL OR NOT. JUDGE MATHIS IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO?? I KNOW SO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE GOTTEN THINGS OFF THERE RECORDS BUT WHEN I ASK ANYONE IN THE SYSTEM THEY TELL ME NO THERE’S NOTHING I CAN DO.IS THAT TRUE? PLEASE SAY IT AIN’T SO. THANK 4 LISTENING.GOD BLESS U.
I need to know how to handle the adult issues my children are putting themselves into as I did in my teens up into my 30s. I’m now 33 & clean. What I’m agonizing over right now are the way my children are heading. My daugther had sex with a 15 yr old when she was 12 & my 15 yr old son was just caught smoking pot at school. I am scared out of my mind! I have told my kids all about my past & the consequences of my actions that myself AND my children are still suffering because of them. I have covered all bases on the issues I speak of & yet they still go out & do exactly what I’ve preached against. I feel like they are skating on thin ice in which direction they will go in life & it’s in my hands & is such a huge responsibility on my part to try & guide them. It will break my heart to see them inflict the kind of pain on themselves that drugs & premarital sex brings. I am willing to fight for my kids but just how far do I go? Please help me with your knowledge and advice ASAP. Thanks so very much for listening & God bless you… Kristin
I very much enjoyed your TV show (laughed for the last 10 years!) but more so, I admire your interest in attempting to change the lives of people who need real help. When I was an undergraduate at Rice Unversity, working for the esteemed Dr. Lee Brown as a research student, I was fortunate to investigate this matter. The concept was to assist the legislators of Texas in finding the best treatment programs for youth with criminal convictions in true rehabilitation programs rather than merely sentences before release back into the community. Unfortunately, the time was not right in gaining support for any new legislation. Texas is a fairly unforgiving state when it comes to criminal convictions and has been well known for some of the greatest penalization regardless of any age. I lived in Hawaii for the last 5 years and came back with a renewed hope that at least in Austin, TX we can fight for the future of our youth. What a great and decent humanitarian that you are. America wishes you well and many happy returns. Keep us laughing in the mean time
KMcCann76 dealing with youths has become a big job over the last ten years, until 8 years ago I was lost and did not know where I was headed or what I wanted out of life. Then I found myself fighting in court to get my 4 young kids out of the foster care system. They were 4,2,1 and 6 months. To this day I do everything for them but at the same time I have learned to be a positive figure in their lives not just dad. Continue to talk with your children and see why they are making these choices. Try not to create bad relations because once you let their trust get away from you the streets will get them and we see the paths that leads to. My kids and myself talk about everything and I have a LOVELY woman in my life that has two kids of her own that we joined together as one big happy family. I have had hard times but for the sake of my family I try to keep my head up and never let them see me down. I am in school because of my boys and will never let them see me sitting at home doing nothing because then my words I speak to them will fall on deaf ears. Stay in your kids face with positive words of encouragement so they will always feel comfortable bringing their issues or problems to you. The road may be rough now but please do not give up we have to be strong for our communities as well as our homes. Bless you and stay strong your kids and my kids need you. REGHAR64
Judge Mathis: I truly respect your opinion and all that you do. HOWEVER, your opinion on this blog and the decision you made on today’s show (11/13/09) judging against the 4 young boys and for their mother seems to be a contradiction. It was heart-breaking to watch and particularly disturbing. Especially watching the after-court interaction when one of the boys couldn’t control his pain and emotions. Obviously the mother did not tell the whole story behind her illegal behavior in the home – which must lead to much of the boys’ disfunctional behavior. She took absolutely no responsibility and it was unfortunate that you could not see that. The entire family came to you for an intervention and help and in your blog that is what you speak to – Why on earth wouldn’t you try and help these 4 boys when their mother admittedly smoked pot and drank and took things out on her boys? I’m sure their household is terrible. She needs to take some responsibility for what is happening to her children. Maybe she needs to go to jail for her bahvior? THESE BOYS WERE ASKING YOU FOR YOUR HELP. COULDN’T YOU FEEL THE BOY’S FRUSTRATION AND PAIN? PLEASE RECONSIDER HELPING THESE BOYS AND SENDING THEM TO A BOOT CAMP OR SOME PLACE THAT COULD CHANGE THEIR LIVES! YOU COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LIVES.
Judge Mathis,
Love to watch your show, I have one complaint, you don’t listen very well. I tape your show and was very upset with you after the show, I believe the date of show Nov 11, where the mother was on the show suing her 4 sons for mental distress. Those kids were trying to tell you the other side of the story, but after you saw the pictures of them with money, guns, etc(which the uncle left for them) nothing they said made any difference and thats unfair.What really hurt my heart the most is when you totally discounted what the sister was trying to do . They don’t have a role model now and don’t believe they’ve ever had one. The mother smokes weed and gets drunk and got remarried. Those boys didn’t get like that overnight, and the fruit don’t fall far from the tree…I raised 3 sons in Compton alone(with the help of the good Lord) I never told my sons not to do something that I was doing.You lead by example.. They are doing wonderful. I have one that was trying/actually did get caught up, but I didnt treat him like the mother and you did on the show. Today he’s a truck driver that owns his truck. No angel by any means, just saying I didn’t give up on him and treat him bad,running to someone else to take care of my responsibilties like she is doing) One is a Navy Chief, the youngest is lead man where prescriptions drugs are made.The Mother is not a good leader..They should have counter sued her for the same amount..If I may make a suggestion, you need to have the boys on the show again and handle it totally different. First thing you need to do is say “Sorry” for not listening. Even you failed them by not offering them anything,a counselor or something and make them give that woman money, what will they think about themselves for the rest of their lives?
They just need to feel like someone truly cares about their well being on a daily basis. I believe they could do a 360, just like “YOU”.
Thank you for your opinion and the concern that you express for the four young boys. I am pleased to inform you that counseling was offered to the entire family following the show. And the feedback from the young men to our show has been very positive. Some times tough love is the most effective love to get people decide to make a change.
I hope this is permitted to show on this site. I invite Judge Mathis to stop saying that a person cannot make a difference in a child’s life if the child is not ready to change. Not exact words but the meaning is the same.
I invite the judge to adopt many of the methods used by Judge Hatchett to help those children who do not want to change. Her tough love does not leave them to flounder until they realize the error of their ways. No, she and a bunch of other people intervene to show the child what his current path will lead to- such as “visits” to jail, one-on-one meetings people who have turned their own life around, and exposing them to people who have achieved a dream that the child has. This is tough love in the most productive way. So please, admin, pass this message on to him so hopefully he will stop saying that on national tv and believing it. Thank God Judge Hatchett does not say that. She expects “greatness” and gives them a “reason” so to speak to want that for themselves too! If you do not allow this to publish, I understand that this is a criticism of the Judge but it is one that needed to be said and hopefully acted on.
I respect you as a judge and all your efforts as a Judge. But im a little botherd of the race issue with you, not one white face in the photo’s are vidio’s. Well all races are feeling the pain of this issue with a child involved in the juvinile system.And juvinile facility are not a safe place. I live in texas and my son was in TYC for a year. 6 day’s after turning 13 for 2 midemeanor’s he was sentanced.And then experianced and witness alot of abuse by staff members thruout his stay.His arm was dislocated and broke in two places as i witnessed others with broken bones.This is not safe enviroment he did not deserve a broke arm for kicking someone’s car are a year lock up.And even after the law passed no misdameanor to be sent to tyc 3 day’s after his sentance it took his broken arm and a good attorney to get him released, after all misdameanor were to be released as soon as law was passed.When they live in a enviroment where the adults walking around with some kinda Texas badge on authority figure breaking the law everyday causing bodily harm and getting away with it this is just so theriputic hhmm? Now my son is soon to be 16 and they dont understand why he is coming back through the courts? When he was 13 I feel at that age if the court’s wouldnt have messed him over found a place were he could have recieved help today would be a different story.The system is alot to blame for this ticking time bomb i live with.And what get’s me he is the bad guy for not respecting the system are the folks in it.He still being told your the bad one.I could go on forever about this but the ignorance of it all makes me sick. Raped by the state fractured justice legal abuse.By Randal Chance. Suggested reading was wrote by someone who work that tyc system 20 years.And the only one i know who has spoke out on the abuse our Youth is feeling. And when you refer to tough love this is it for Texas allowing the abuser to continue abusing.Animals get treated better in Texas than our Youth.
Good Afternoon Judge Mathis.
I’ve unsuccessfully attempted to query through the ‘Ask Judge Mathis’ link, however, after 4 times, a message came back saying there was a computer error…
This is the 1st time I’ve visited the revamped site. I have been searching for expungement information, but didn’t see Louisiana on your list. Is there an issue with expungement in Louisiana? Desperately seeking as much help as possible. Thanks for any help you can offer.
Judge Mathis, I agree with you wholeheartedly on this matter. I am a caseworker in Chicago and we deal with this issues all the time. Our children being tried as adults, it frightens me because of the crap that goes on behind bars. No minor should be incarcerated with adults. I do not care what the charges are. Minors should be in a facility that will provide them with the counseling and mentoring that they need to be productive a law abiding citizens. Adult lock ups will make them angry and recommit more crimes as you stated. We have to do a better job at rehabbing our youth.
Will somebody please tell me when did it become legal to use a persons juvenile record to deny them employment. There is a background check that is mandatory by the state of Florida in which employers demand applicants pay 4o dollars to an agency that has access to juvenile and school records and use these records to deny them employment even if they dont have an adult record. also, I am told that if you pay $1,800 then it becomes illegal to do this.
Unfortunately juvenile justice has become a hot political issue in Washington, DC. The notion that someone could make a mistake and recover is disappearing. They have extending sex offender registration to gun offender registration. Juvenile records are now have a limited availability to the public. being convicted of drug possession requires mandatory drivers license suspension.
i watch you show and am proud that you took advantage of a second chance. Sadly those chances are slowly evaporating for today’s youth. i don’t think this is what America wants for its youth. When I testify against these laws I am told they are only responding to public pressure.
Voters need to call their representatives and tell them how they want youthful offenders treated.