Judge says court lacks authority and local resources to order long-term mental-health treatment as mother urges help for son

Martha Richardson told Clayton County State Court that her adult son, charged with loitering and prowling, has schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, has been homeless at times and resists treatment. She asked the court to consider treatment alternatives when the judge accepted a negotiated plea for Cameron Laray Richardson on March 10, 2026.

Judge Tammy Long Hayward said she understood the family's concerns but explained the limits of her authority and of local capacity: the court does not presently have programs to order long-term treatment and cannot hold someone in jail solely while attempting to find a program placement. She recommended the family contact the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and regional providers and noted that some metropolitan programs or ACT teams can provide outreach and monitoring, but those resources are less available in Clayton County.

The judge walked through practical next steps with Richardson's mother: explore guardian or probate options if appropriate, contact regional treatment providers and community organizations (the judge cited ganami.org as a resource), and consider whether income and benefits could be used to secure placement. Judge Hayward cautioned that jail is not a substitute for sustained behavioral-health treatment and that any transfer to a program would require an available placement and appropriate authority to effect it.

The court accepted the negotiated plea for Richardson and advised the family on community options; the case will proceed under the terms agreed at arraignment with standard reporting and any court-ordered conditions to be supervised by probation. The judge also suggested the family seek NAMI for guidance on navigation, intake and possible program referral.

Ending: The judge acknowledged the frustration that courts often feel constrained when mental-health infrastructure is scarce and encouraged the family to pursue regional resources while complying with court conditions.