Rita Williams

So it's things that you step through that I'm lucky that I've got the professional training, but some of it is just common sense too. And I will say having that opportunity to be able to voice things for people

and break it down in a way that makes things, I guess, less difficult to understand and more manageable, that makes it a lot easier too of just empowering people so that they're like, I'm not going to fall for that. I know what happened.

and break it down in a way that makes things, I guess, less difficult to understand and more manageable, that makes it a lot easier too of just empowering people so that they're like, I'm not going to fall for that. I know what happened.

and break it down in a way that makes things, I guess, less difficult to understand and more manageable, that makes it a lot easier too of just empowering people so that they're like, I'm not going to fall for that. I know what happened.

Yeah, which isn't very common, the craziest part to me. And that's encouraging to me to hear a judge like, oh, thank goodness, we're going to be okay. There's actually a judge out there who's like common sense. You know, like it shouldn't be common sense for a judge to not understand mental health. It shouldn't be common sense for a judge to not consider that somebody, you know, has autism.

Yeah, which isn't very common, the craziest part to me. And that's encouraging to me to hear a judge like, oh, thank goodness, we're going to be okay. There's actually a judge out there who's like common sense. You know, like it shouldn't be common sense for a judge to not understand mental health. It shouldn't be common sense for a judge to not consider that somebody, you know, has autism.

Yeah, which isn't very common, the craziest part to me. And that's encouraging to me to hear a judge like, oh, thank goodness, we're going to be okay. There's actually a judge out there who's like common sense. You know, like it shouldn't be common sense for a judge to not understand mental health. It shouldn't be common sense for a judge to not consider that somebody, you know, has autism.

But yet here we are. We still unfortunately have judges who are like, no, this person is just a terrible person and they're evil. And that's not true.

But yet here we are. We still unfortunately have judges who are like, no, this person is just a terrible person and they're evil. And that's not true.

But yet here we are. We still unfortunately have judges who are like, no, this person is just a terrible person and they're evil. And that's not true.

There is. And the sad part is that judges and prosecutors, they have the most power and they don't even either don't realize it or they don't want to realize it because there unfortunately is a lot of money and punishment. But if you have diversion programs for adults, which there are places, I'm lucky that the county I live in has phenomenal diversion programs. They do have mental health court.

There is. And the sad part is that judges and prosecutors, they have the most power and they don't even either don't realize it or they don't want to realize it because there unfortunately is a lot of money and punishment. But if you have diversion programs for adults, which there are places, I'm lucky that the county I live in has phenomenal diversion programs. They do have mental health court.

There is. And the sad part is that judges and prosecutors, they have the most power and they don't even either don't realize it or they don't want to realize it because there unfortunately is a lot of money and punishment. But if you have diversion programs for adults, which there are places, I'm lucky that the county I live in has phenomenal diversion programs. They do have mental health court.

They have treatment or substance abuse treatment courts. They have access to those things for people to divert them away because diversion ends up saving the taxpayer money.

They have treatment or substance abuse treatment courts. They have access to those things for people to divert them away because diversion ends up saving the taxpayer money.

They have treatment or substance abuse treatment courts. They have access to those things for people to divert them away because diversion ends up saving the taxpayer money.

millions. And not just that, but it also creates jobs in those other sectors, and it creates just a more holistic and equitable environment overall. So if you're going to do that for adults, why not do that for juveniles? Now, I will say to you, Tack onto that, which is really fascinating of how far behind not just the country, but Michigan is when it comes to juvenile court.

millions. And not just that, but it also creates jobs in those other sectors, and it creates just a more holistic and equitable environment overall. So if you're going to do that for adults, why not do that for juveniles? Now, I will say to you, Tack onto that, which is really fascinating of how far behind not just the country, but Michigan is when it comes to juvenile court.

millions. And not just that, but it also creates jobs in those other sectors, and it creates just a more holistic and equitable environment overall. So if you're going to do that for adults, why not do that for juveniles? Now, I will say to you, Tack onto that, which is really fascinating of how far behind not just the country, but Michigan is when it comes to juvenile court.

We just recently this year made it so juvenile defendants have access to court appointed attorneys that are paid for. That is so backward of like, you have these kids that you're basically saddling debt. And it was up until a couple months ago, completely okay to do it. It's bonkers. Like the common sense does not exist in the system or just empathy sometimes.