The LA Public Defender’s Office has been a fierce advocate and progressive participant in the development and implementation of programs for individuals who, because of mental illness, have become involved in the legal system. The Public Defenders Office is invested in working towards the goal of providing mental health treatment as an alternative to incarceration at the onset of a mental health crisis, diverting individuals into community treatment and providing support for independent living. Collaborating with the Department of Health Services, the Office of Diversion and Reentry, the Department of Mental Health and other County agencies, we provide a wide array of civil and criminal representation services to our clients. We represent thousands of clients annually in the Mental Health Court who are subject to criminal and/or mental health commitments throughout the county. Attorneys, psychiatric social workers and paralegals provide a holistic approach to advance the interests and well-being of clients with a mental illness. Our Advocacy includes:
When an individual who has been charged with a crime but is not competent to proceed with the criminal case because of their mental illness, the court will order the individual to receive mental health treatment to restore competency to stand trial.
We represent thousands of individuals, including minors, who, because of a mental illness, cannot take care of their food, shelter or clothing.
For adults with serious mental illness and a history of treatment noncompliance who are at substantial risk for deteriorating and/or involuntary hospitalization or incarceration.
For adults with serious mental illness and a history of treatment noncompliance who are at substantial risk for deteriorating and/or involuntary hospitalization or incarceration.
For clients who have “completed” their criminal case or sentence but, the state hospital system believes that due to their mental illness they cannot be released; we provide representation for clients challenging their involuntary commitments.
Social workers who assist attorneys in client case management, locating community services for clients to access and assist attorneys in getting client accepted into the Regional Center.
For clients who have “completed” their criminal case or sentence but, the state hospital system believes that due to their mental illness they cannot be released; we provide representation for clients challenging their involuntary commitments.
We have dedicated psychiatric social workers embedded in jails to facilitate the flow of information between clients and the attorneys representing them. The liaison engages directly with a client to encourage them to make their court appearance and link them to outside services.
We have dedicated psychiatric social workers embedded in jails to facilitate the flow of information between clients and the attorneys representing them. The liaison engages directly with a client to encourage them to make their court appearance and link them to outside services.
Paralegals assist attorneys in collecting historical mental health records for clients, visiting conservatorship clients across the county and obtaining court records relevant to the client’s case.
