Podcast: Banning Books, Mental Health

A TEAM Approach

Yesterday, I interviewed Judge JJ Frydrychowicz about Escambia County T.E.A.M. Court Program and its possible expansion.

      • The Escambia County T.E.A.M. Court Program is designed to provide targeted treatment for a criminal defendant who has been diagnosed with a mental illness and whose condition contributed to the commission of the qualifying charge.
          • T.E.A.M. stands for Teaching, Education, Accountability and Motivation.
      • Judge Frydrychowicz said, “I am proud that the court, since 2020, for those who have successfully completed the program, we are at a 0% recidivism rate.”

Why does the matter: Mental Health Task Force’s strategic plan calls for an expansion of mental health treatment courts.

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Not in America

Linda Fussell, a veteran Escambia County educator and advocate for books not being banned, discusses the PEN America lawsuit against the Escambia County School Board.

Why this matters: Fussell: “You’re banning the freedom to read and taking that opportunity away, and denying students who may want to have a vested interest in some of those books, the opportunity to read them. We’re in America, and we should not do that in America.”

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