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Los Angeles Mental Health Attorneys
Understanding Mental Health & Criminal Defense
The criminal justice system often fails in handling matters related to individuals suffering from mental health issues. People with mental health conditions that get caught up in the justice system need to be treated differently than standard criminal cases.
They need to be assessed by a mental health professional, a treatment plan needs to be developed and the role their mental health-related conditions played in the alleged crime needs to be determined. These are highly complex and specialized issues.
That is why ensuring that you have a mental health lawyer by your side is essential to the outcome of your case. Schedule a free case review today by calling (818) 643-3093 to get started.
Mental Health Cases We Handle
At Lessem, Newstat & Tooson, LLP, our mental health attorneys are skilled in all matters of mental health and criminal defense. When it comes to handling claims of a criminal nature, paying attention to mental health-related issues can make a world of difference in how your case plays out.
Therefore, having an attorney who understands things such as the issues surrounding insanity, as well as what it means to plead not guilty by reason of insanity (NGI) can greatly improve your chances of a successful result. Additionally, with strong connections to numerous psychologists, psychiatrists and mental health treatment facilities, our lawyers at Lessem, Newstat & Tooson are uniquely positioned to achieve the best possible results for criminal defendants with mental health conditions.
Areas in which we can help those with mental health conditions include:
- Criminal cases with mental health issues
- 5250 Hearings
- Murphy Conservatorships
- LPS Conservatorships
- Restoration of Sanity
- Competency Issues
- Not guilty by reason of insanity (NGI)
- Mental Health Diversion
- Evaluation and placement into mental health treatment facilities
Our mental health lawyers are here to help. Contact Lessem & Newstat, LLP at (818) 643-3093 to schedule a consultation today.
How We Help
No words can appropriately describe how life-saving a mental health attorney can be to the issues that may arise during a mental health criminal case. Whether you have been accused of a crime and are now in need of legal defense to represent your case at Department 95, or you would like to learn more about Murphy Conservatorships, restoration of sanity, or mental health disability rights, we are here for you. We can even help you decide if seeking mental health diversion would be right for your case. In many situations, it might not be the best option, so consulting with a lawyer first is advised.
We have dedicated over 50 years of combined experience to defending the rights of the criminally accused, particularly as they pertain to claims of mental health. As such, we can provide you with information concerning:
- Crisis consultations
- Treatment vs. jail
- 5250 hearings
- And even pre-filing intervention of mental health cases
Mental health cases can be very complicated. According to the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization, having a criminal defense specialist representing you in a complicated case is important. Jeremy Lessem, one of our mental health attorneys, is certified by the Board of Legal Specialization in criminal law.
Treatment vs. Jail for Mental Health Defendants
We cannot stress enough how different the proceedings of a criminal case for mentally stable defendants will be from those processed for insane or mentally ill individuals tried in the mental health court systems. The rights of the mentally disabled differ from those of the non-mentally ill. As such, the legal processes of the mentally incapacitated will reflect a different set of standard operating procedures, including the ways in which a defendant is tried and subsequently punished.
Unlike other individuals in need of a criminal defense lawyer, a mentally ill individual may require a much stronger form of legal defense. Only with the help of a Southern California mental health attorney from Lessem, Newstat & Tooson, LLP do you stand a chance at survival in the Los Angeles mental health court systems if you have been accused of a crime for which your mental illness is to blame.
Meet the Lawyers Fighting for You
The Lessem, Newstat & Tooson Team
Prioritizing Mental Health Treatment Over Incarceration
Civil commitment in a hospital facility should be the only option for mentally incapacitated individuals who have been charged with a crime in Southern California. When a person is unable to understand that their behaviors have violated moral standards of operation and have consequently crossed over into the realm of criminal offense, then there is no way they can be expected to understand their placement in a state prison facility, not to mention their lack of potential to survive in this type of system. Therefore, it is vital for mentally ill defendants accused of a criminal offense to immediately contact a lawyer from our firm.
At Lessem, Newstat & Tooson, LLP, we have helped hundreds of clients suffering from mental illness get into programs instead of prison. We work with some of the top doctors in Southern California to fight for our clients and to show that prison is not the answer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Powerful Advocacy, Proven Results.
When going through serious legal matters, do not put your case in the hands of just any attorney. Rather, work with a team who has earned a respected reputation for outstanding legal service and one with a proven track record of success.
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