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Legal Aid Radio

Legal Aid Radio

By: Debra Sterling Walters
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About this listen

 Our weekly radio show airs on Walk 97.5 FM and highlights the humanity of the people who make up our community. We have guests on the show to discuss the myriad complexities within the criminal justice system.

Legal Aid is the primary provider of indigent defense in criminal and family courts in Suffolk County. Simply put, if someone is accused of a crime or a family offense, they are entitled to counsel, and the courts will assign counsel if they do not have the wherewithal to afford a lawyer. We also provide support services for our clients in need of addiction intervention, housing, or mental health referrals.Copyright Debra Sterling Walters Political Science Politics & Government Social Sciences
Episodes
  • #121 - A Conversation with Joessie Mathews: Restoring Hope Through Second Chances

    #121 - A Conversation with Joessie Mathews: Restoring Hope Through Second Chances
    Apr 19 2026
    April is Second Chances Month, and if you’ve ever felt like your past was holding you back, this conversation is for you.

    On this episode of Legal Aid Radio, we’re talking to Joessie Mathews, a woman who turned her own life experience into a movement, helped pass the Clean Slate NY Bill, and is now inspiring others to rise, rebuild, and reclaim their future.
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    28 mins
  • #120 - Growing Together: Autism & Neurodiversity with Sheree Sibilly Simmons

    #120 - Growing Together: Autism & Neurodiversity with Sheree Sibilly Simmons
    Apr 12 2026
    Every day, people are misunderstood simply because they experience the world differently. Here on Legal Aid Radio, we’re shining a light on neurodiversity and on how a little understanding can go a long way. As more people hear terms like autism and neurodivergent, there’s still a gap between awareness and true understanding. What does it really mean? And how can we, as a community, respond with empathy instead of assumptions?

    On this episode, we’re joined by a powerful voice in this space, parent advocate Sheree Sibilly Simmons, who is working directly with children and families to help bridge that gap, connect people to resources, and remind us all that when we take the time to understand one another, we create stronger, more supportive communities for everyone.
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    29 mins
  • #119 - Green Jackets: A Veteran-Centered Approach to Justice Pt. 2

    #119 - Green Jackets: A Veteran-Centered Approach to Justice Pt. 2
    Apr 6 2026
    What if the people best equipped to help struggling veterans… are veterans themselves?

    On this episode of Legal Aid Radio, we take you inside the Green Jackets: a group of mentors, many of them Vietnam veterans, who stand beside fellow veterans in court, helping them rebuild their lives one step at a time.

    Joined again by Navy veteran Frank D’Aversa and retired Commander Grace Mehl, we explore how this unique program works and why its mission continues long after military service ends.
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    24 mins
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