Evette's Story: "They Supported Me and Never Left Me Behind."

“How is this going to help me?" Evette recalled thinking, "And what can [the Smart Justice Initiative] do for me that others haven’t already?”

At the time, Evette felt stuck—financially strained, overwhelmed by fines, and fearful that jail was inevitable. She knew she wouldn’t be able to keep up with payments, and the thought of going back behind bars weighed heavily on her. But what she didn’t expect was that one difficult moment would change the course of her future.

“Instead of wanting to give up and being threatened with punishment, I was spoken to with care. I knew these girls were here to help me and not make my situation worse.”

That shift—from punishment to partnership—became the turning point in Evette’s commitment. Rather than being seen as a case file or a statistic, she began to feel seen and understood.

“It’s shown me that there’s people out there who aren’t scrutinizing people and seeing people just as criminals,” she said. “I was able to learn how to move forward in my life without being seen as just a drug addict.”

One of the most valuable lessons she gained was learning that she could be responsible—and that she didn’t have to navigate hardship alone. “I learned I can be more responsible and can count on people when life gets hard. The biggest thing was having a support system that I knew I could trust.”

That support system proved critical during one of the most devastating seasons of her life. When Evette’s mother passed away, the weight of grief could have undone everything she had worked toward.

“When my mom died, my life should have crumbled to pieces. But the girls wouldn't let it,” she shared. “They supported me and never left me behind.”

The court team’s compassion during that time solidified her belief that the initiative was truly invested in her success. “They never stopped supporting me. They went out of their way to help get my license figured out and help me find sobriety again."

Regaining her driver’s license became more than a legal milestone—it was a symbol of restored independence and possibility. “I am most proud of keeping control, being sober, managing my life better and going towards a positive future. Without my license, my life was going more and more downhill. Because of y'all I have a positive future and am capable of meeting my goals,” she said.

Today, the difference in Evette is visible not only to her, but to everyone around her. “It does so much good! Everyone I interact with now sees the difference in me and that’s huge! All you have to do is look at me.”

As she completes the program, her goals are clear. In the next six months, she plans to finish her felony probation and put her legal issues completely behind her. The skills and relationships she built through the Smart Justice Initiative have prepared her for that next chapter.