Comments on: JUSTICE FOR JUVENILES

By: gregadd

gregadd — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 17:28:26 +0000

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.

By: Toni Phelps

Toni Phelps — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 22:06:39 +0000

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.

By: ybooze

ybooze — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 23:18:01 +0000

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.

By: VetteGreen

VetteGreen — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 19:13:17 +0000

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.

By: jamiesmith6800

jamiesmith6800 — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 21:18:36 +0000

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.

By: Funtastic

Funtastic — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 23:10:13 +0000

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.

By: admin

admin — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:25:18 +0000

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.

By: grannyfaye

grannyfaye — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:18:46 +0000

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”.

By: key164

key164 — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:52:30 +0000

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.

By: reggie

reggie — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 05:48:25 +0000

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