Justyna Rzewinski

So I've... I've been involved with different organizations. Like last Friday, I spoke at a rally because it was the Committee of Criminal Justice budget hearing. We had a rally in front of City Hall and me and other advocates, as well as people who are incarcerated, spoke about their experience and also where the money should go and how

We want the money to go into alternatives to incarceration, mental health courts, so that people with a severe mental illness don't end up going to Rikers, that they actually receive the kind of treatment that they need. Because as I witnessed on Rikers Island, People don't get any mental health treatment. They actually get worse. And these individuals are coming back into the community.

We want the money to go into alternatives to incarceration, mental health courts, so that people with a severe mental illness don't end up going to Rikers, that they actually receive the kind of treatment that they need. Because as I witnessed on Rikers Island, People don't get any mental health treatment. They actually get worse. And these individuals are coming back into the community.

We want the money to go into alternatives to incarceration, mental health courts, so that people with a severe mental illness don't end up going to Rikers, that they actually receive the kind of treatment that they need. Because as I witnessed on Rikers Island, People don't get any mental health treatment. They actually get worse. And these individuals are coming back into the community.

And that's how they're being released from Rikers Island. Not medicated, traumatized. And I'm not saying people with a mental illness commit a crime, but... They don't have the support to help them if they're not on their medications. There's a risk for that. It's our doing as a society not supporting these individuals and providing them with the help that they actually need.

And that's how they're being released from Rikers Island. Not medicated, traumatized. And I'm not saying people with a mental illness commit a crime, but... They don't have the support to help them if they're not on their medications. There's a risk for that. It's our doing as a society not supporting these individuals and providing them with the help that they actually need.

And that's how they're being released from Rikers Island. Not medicated, traumatized. And I'm not saying people with a mental illness commit a crime, but... They don't have the support to help them if they're not on their medications. There's a risk for that. It's our doing as a society not supporting these individuals and providing them with the help that they actually need.

Exactly. I've also been working with different coalitions. In January, I went up to Albany and spoke at a press conference there about the Court Expansion Act, which we're trying to pass, which would extend mental health courts and programs in the community.

Exactly. I've also been working with different coalitions. In January, I went up to Albany and spoke at a press conference there about the Court Expansion Act, which we're trying to pass, which would extend mental health courts and programs in the community.

Exactly. I've also been working with different coalitions. In January, I went up to Albany and spoke at a press conference there about the Court Expansion Act, which we're trying to pass, which would extend mental health courts and programs in the community.

So my like nine to five full-time job, I'm working in a supervised release program. So this is pre-trial. So this is when somebody is arraigned and they go before the judge and the judge decides if they're going to set bail. If they set bail, that means that individual will be on Rikers Island fighting their case. And if the judge decides

So my like nine to five full-time job, I'm working in a supervised release program. So this is pre-trial. So this is when somebody is arraigned and they go before the judge and the judge decides if they're going to set bail. If they set bail, that means that individual will be on Rikers Island fighting their case. And if the judge decides

So my like nine to five full-time job, I'm working in a supervised release program. So this is pre-trial. So this is when somebody is arraigned and they go before the judge and the judge decides if they're going to set bail. If they set bail, that means that individual will be on Rikers Island fighting their case. And if the judge decides

recommends supervised release then they're being able to fight their case while being in the community so what we do is we make sure that they attend all of their court appointments they come in and do check-ins with us and we also connect them to outside resources

recommends supervised release then they're being able to fight their case while being in the community so what we do is we make sure that they attend all of their court appointments they come in and do check-ins with us and we also connect them to outside resources

recommends supervised release then they're being able to fight their case while being in the community so what we do is we make sure that they attend all of their court appointments they come in and do check-ins with us and we also connect them to outside resources

So they have a lawyer assigned to them right away. So we do not help with that. We do communicate with the lawyers and we let them know if the participant hasn't come in, but that's through the court. Yes, we connect them to mental health services, but also other services such as employment or education, housing. These individuals come with a lot of issues and a lot of needs.

So they have a lawyer assigned to them right away. So we do not help with that. We do communicate with the lawyers and we let them know if the participant hasn't come in, but that's through the court. Yes, we connect them to mental health services, but also other services such as employment or education, housing. These individuals come with a lot of issues and a lot of needs.

So they have a lawyer assigned to them right away. So we do not help with that. We do communicate with the lawyers and we let them know if the participant hasn't come in, but that's through the court. Yes, we connect them to mental health services, but also other services such as employment or education, housing. These individuals come with a lot of issues and a lot of needs.

So we are able to do all of that. We refer them to programs where they hire people who have involvement with the criminal legal system. We refer them to GED programs or college, whatever needs they have.