John Puls

But I couldn't believe it. I'm like, oh, yeah, we do this all the time in California. This is part of the deal. And I was like, wow, I wonder what it would be like if that was able to be replicated. So they actually had a mental health professional advocating for the person to receive proper treatment and care and educating the legal system. There was a full-time staff member.

But I couldn't believe it. I'm like, oh, yeah, we do this all the time in California. This is part of the deal. And I was like, wow, I wonder what it would be like if that was able to be replicated. So they actually had a mental health professional advocating for the person to receive proper treatment and care and educating the legal system. There was a full-time staff member.

But I couldn't believe it. I'm like, oh, yeah, we do this all the time in California. This is part of the deal. And I was like, wow, I wonder what it would be like if that was able to be replicated. So they actually had a mental health professional advocating for the person to receive proper treatment and care and educating the legal system. There was a full-time staff member.

They had multiple of them, depending on the county. But absent from that, because that is certainly not the norm. It's not the norm in Florida. And I'm sure it's not the norm in most states. You know, what that looks like is I'll back up and say most prosecutors, while, of course, they're punishment and jail time minded, they ultimately want the cases off of their list. Right.

They had multiple of them, depending on the county. But absent from that, because that is certainly not the norm. It's not the norm in Florida. And I'm sure it's not the norm in most states. You know, what that looks like is I'll back up and say most prosecutors, while, of course, they're punishment and jail time minded, they ultimately want the cases off of their list. Right.

They had multiple of them, depending on the county. But absent from that, because that is certainly not the norm. It's not the norm in Florida. And I'm sure it's not the norm in most states. You know, what that looks like is I'll back up and say most prosecutors, while, of course, they're punishment and jail time minded, they ultimately want the cases off of their list. Right.

They want them settled. They want the pleas done. They certainly don't want to go to trial in any meaningful way. Again, this goes back to. Seriously advocating for your loved one, educating them, making sure that your loved one is under the care of some appropriate mental health professionals that can

They want them settled. They want the pleas done. They certainly don't want to go to trial in any meaningful way. Again, this goes back to. Seriously advocating for your loved one, educating them, making sure that your loved one is under the care of some appropriate mental health professionals that can

They want them settled. They want the pleas done. They certainly don't want to go to trial in any meaningful way. Again, this goes back to. Seriously advocating for your loved one, educating them, making sure that your loved one is under the care of some appropriate mental health professionals that can

write letters, provide reports, write something that would indicate, hey, this was related to having autism. This was related to a mental health disorder or a co-occurring substance use disorder. This is what we're doing to receive proper treatment and trying to negotiate a plea from there, which of course would involve, again, having a good attorney.

write letters, provide reports, write something that would indicate, hey, this was related to having autism. This was related to a mental health disorder or a co-occurring substance use disorder. This is what we're doing to receive proper treatment and trying to negotiate a plea from there, which of course would involve, again, having a good attorney.

write letters, provide reports, write something that would indicate, hey, this was related to having autism. This was related to a mental health disorder or a co-occurring substance use disorder. This is what we're doing to receive proper treatment and trying to negotiate a plea from there, which of course would involve, again, having a good attorney.

First thing I'll mention is that, and again, most counties actually do have the ability, the county will actually pay a mitigation specialist. Families typically don't have to come out of pocket, but I think it's an underutilized resource that a lot of people don't even know that exists. They can try and mitigate the sentencing and explain to the judge why this happened, I think is valuable.

First thing I'll mention is that, and again, most counties actually do have the ability, the county will actually pay a mitigation specialist. Families typically don't have to come out of pocket, but I think it's an underutilized resource that a lot of people don't even know that exists. They can try and mitigate the sentencing and explain to the judge why this happened, I think is valuable.

First thing I'll mention is that, and again, most counties actually do have the ability, the county will actually pay a mitigation specialist. Families typically don't have to come out of pocket, but I think it's an underutilized resource that a lot of people don't even know that exists. They can try and mitigate the sentencing and explain to the judge why this happened, I think is valuable.

In general, and this is from speaking with a lot of judges and working a lot of cases, one of the number one protective factors that judges look at in terms of, okay, if this person is released on probation, what is the likelihood that they're going to re-offend as they would use it in legal terms? One of the largest protective factors against that is family support. And that's it.

In general, and this is from speaking with a lot of judges and working a lot of cases, one of the number one protective factors that judges look at in terms of, okay, if this person is released on probation, what is the likelihood that they're going to re-offend as they would use it in legal terms? One of the largest protective factors against that is family support. And that's it.

In general, and this is from speaking with a lot of judges and working a lot of cases, one of the number one protective factors that judges look at in terms of, okay, if this person is released on probation, what is the likelihood that they're going to re-offend as they would use it in legal terms? One of the largest protective factors against that is family support. And that's it.

It's family support. Those without it are exponentially more likely to end up back in the criminal justice system. It's not to say that obviously, of course, it can happen even if they have family support. But it's important that the judge knows that family support is there. And so that can come from writing a personalized letter to a judge is what I often recommend that families do.

It's family support. Those without it are exponentially more likely to end up back in the criminal justice system. It's not to say that obviously, of course, it can happen even if they have family support. But it's important that the judge knows that family support is there. And so that can come from writing a personalized letter to a judge is what I often recommend that families do.