Mentally ill nephew in legal trouble
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Anonymous
| My nephew who is mentally ill got arrested and the court is not taking into consideration the fact that he is ill, not a bad, immoral criminal. He may go to jail for several years. He is currently in jail awaiting a trial or hearing. Does anyone know a really outstanding defense attorney for a situation like this? |
Anonymous
| You need to post in what state or county he was charged. Lawyers are local creatures. I can give you the name of 50 lawyers, but if he is charged in MD, my recommendations won't do any good. Also, if it happened in Virginia, your nephew will receive about 75 letters at his home address from lawyers who will provide a free consultation -- usually a half hour. If your nephew is indigent, he will qualify for a public defender or a court appointed attorney who will represent him for a very low cost. |
Anonymous
| What is he charged with? |
Anonymous
| It's Arlington Va. He has already used a public defender and things didn't work out for him so his parents want to hire a private lawyer. I think he broke an order to stay away from someone (by accident, ran into this person). He needs mental health care. |
Anonymous
| It's Arlington Va. He has already used a public defender and things didn't work out for him so his parents want to hire a private lawyer. I think he broke an order to stay away from someone (by accident, ran into this person). He needs mental health care. |
Anonymous
| Does he have a psychiatrist or psychologist who can verify he has a long-standing history of mental illness for which he sought treatment, or is this just the family saying that he is "mentally ill" in an attempt to justify his behavior? |
Anonymous
You realize they all say this, right? |
Anonymous
Yes, he has mental health professionals that can verify his illness and he has been officially diagnosed as a schizophrenic. Does anyone have a recommendation for a really good lawyer? |
Anonymous
| Nicholas Balland, in Arlington at Courthouse Plaza. |
Anonymous
You realize you really don't understand mental illness, right? I'm trying to get help for someone who is mentally ill and has disordered thinking, among other things. He needs medication and psychological help. |
Anonymous
I understand mental illness (not PP), but I also understand from your post that your nephew had a restraining order/protective order issued against him and he violated it. Your nephew no doubt needs help - I STRONGLY BELIEVE WE HAVE A BROKEN MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM IN THIS COUNTRY! However, it does not mean your nephew should not do some jail time -- perhaps...he broke a protective order...if i had a protective order against someone and they broke it...i want them to go to jail. If he needs mental help..i would hope he gets that too..but he is evidently dangerous...HENCE THE PROTECTIVE ORDER. |
Anonymous
| I have a cousin who had a similar thing happen. He is mentally ill, broke a restraining order with an ex gf, and he served time. His dad is a circuit court judge too. He broke the law, he had to serve the time. He's out now, and hopefully on his meds. |
Anonymous
I'm the original PP and yup, this is what I was getting at. It's obvious he violated a protection order, and that P.O. means he stays away, mental illness or not. It's usually the ones who are required to stay away from someone that, oops, I just accidentally ran into that person.... AGAIN. That doesn't mean that he shouldn't get help, but it also means someone was scared enough of him to get a P.O., and a judge agreed, and he likely scared the crap out of that person by oops, showing up again accidentally where he/she was. That's just the reality of it. |
Anonymous
| I'm looking for a recommendation for a good lawyer. I don't know about the details of his case. |
Anonymous
| The problem is though that he will not be able to get appropriate treatment for his mental illness in jail and may be at risk because he is mentally ill. |