50 Years Without Trial: What George Williams’ Story Teaches Us About Mental Health, Policing, and Human Rights

George Williams spent 50 years behind bars without ever being tried for a crime. Not because he was dangerous. Not because of evidence. But because he was poor, mentally ill, and forgotten by a system that was never built to protect him.

His story is not only a devastating failure of justice—it’s a global warning about what happens when mental illness is criminalized instead of treated, and when governments forget the people they incarcerate.

Who Was George Williams?

In 1970, George Williams was arrested in Jamaica for allegedly killing someone during an episode of mental instability. He was just 20 years old. Diagnosed with schizophrenia, he was declared unfit to plead—and from that moment, he was never tried, never sentenced, and never released.

He remained locked away in the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre—known for its overcrowding and inhumane conditions—for five decades. No medical rehabilitation. No legal advocacy. No care.

In June 2024, Jamaica’s Supreme Court ruled that the government must pay $121 million Jamaican dollars (approximately $783,000 USD) in compensation. The judgment called it a “grave and egregious” violation of Mr. Williams’ constitutional rights. But justice delayed is not justice delivered.

What This Reveals About Global Human Rights Failures

George Williams’ story is not an isolated failure— it reflects a worldwide pattern of human rights violations at the intersection of mental health and policing.

• In the United States, nearly 1 in 5 inmates has a serious mental illness, and police are more likely to use force against those in crisis.

• In Nigeria, individuals with mental illness are often chained in religious institutions or locked in prisons indefinitely.

• In India, outdated colonial-era laws still allow people with psychosocial disabilities to be detained for years without their consent.

Around the world, poverty + mental illness + race or marginalization = invisibility.

Where Lustitia Aequalis Stands

At Lustitia Aequalis, we believe that justice must be accessible, humane, and centered on dignity, not punishment. Our mission is rooted in accountability, transparency, and civil protections for everyone, including those who are most vulnerable.

We are currently beta testing the Witness App to protect individuals during police encounters, especially those who may be unable to advocate for themselves in moments of crisis. Human rights should never be conditional on mental health, wealth, or proximity to power.

What Can Communities Do?

George Williams’ story compels us to act. Here’s how communities can align public safety with human dignity:

1. Push for Crisis Response Teams, Not Just Police

Support programs where mental health professionals respond to non-violent crisis calls instead of police officers alone. Cities like Eugene, Oregon (CAHOOTS model) and Denver have already shown these programs reduce arrests and deaths.

2. Demand Oversight and Mental Health Screening in Jails

Call for regular audits of detention facilities, transparency about inmate conditions, and independent monitoring bodies—especially for those held without trial.

3. Fund Mental Health, Not Just Prisons

Advocate for more public mental health clinics, mobile crisis units, and early intervention services in schools and underserved communities.

4. Know Your Rights—and Help Others Know Theirs

Educate your community about due process, detention limits, and the rights of people with mental illness during arrest. Our Witness App will help document abuse and protect individuals when they can’t protect themselves.

5. Speak the Names of the Forgotten

Hold vigils, share their stories, and demand reparations for victims of unjust incarceration. George Williams is not a footnote— he is a warning.

✊🏽 Justice Must Be Proactive—Not Just Posthumous

George Williams lost 50 years of his life. He never saw a courtroom. He never got a chance to tell his side of the story. And while no amount of money can return his stolen time, we can ensure no one else suffers in silence the way he did.

At Lustitia Aequalis, we fight so that mental illness is treated with care, not cuffs. So that incarceration is never a substitute for healthcare. And so that no human being ever disappears into a system built to forget them.

Let George’s story be the last of its kind.