MENTAL HEALTH AND CRIMINAL CHARGES
Boston Criminal Defense Attorney Representing Clients with Mental Illness
Are you facing criminal charges, and suffer from mental illness?
All too often, people with mental illness and related conditions end up ensnarled in the criminal justice system. Although improvements have been made, and despite the best efforts of mental health advocates, our criminal justice system is not adequately equipped to handle these cases. At present, a mentally ill defendant’s best hope is that his criminal defense attorney, the judge, or a probation officer has enough knowledge and understanding to detect the need for a mental health evaluation as part of the criminal proceedings.
Jails and prisons are filled with too many people with mental illness, and do not offer nearly enough treatment opportunities. Some of the most common conditions I have observed include: severe anxiety and depression, bipolar, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), borderline personality disorder, autism, paranoid schizophrenia, and the list goes on. As a criminal defense attorney with a background in mental health, I have a unique ability to advocate for these clients.
Prior to entering the legal profession, I obtained my bachelor’s degree in psychology. During law school, I spent a summer working with the Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee, where I first merged my expertise in the law with my understanding of issues surrounding mental health. If you are facing criminal charges in Massachusetts, call me today.