Can Someone with a Mental Illness be Charged with a Sex Crime?
The judicial system treats sex crimes very seriously in Arizona. Many are charged as felonies and entail long prison sentences for the accused. Mental illness is no defense to a sex crime and many people who are accused of sexual assaults suffer from psychiatric problems. The criminal justice system often negates the role of mental […]
How does Maricopa County Jail House Mentally Ill Inmates?
Conditions for mentally ill inmates are grim in many jails across the country. However, jails in Maricopa County have been singled out for criticism in recent years. Writing in Arizona Capitol Times in 2018, Eric Balaban, a senior staff counsel with the National Prison Project of the American Civil Liberties Union, described terrible conditions for […]
What Does Guilty Except Insane Mean in Arizona?
Have you been charged with a crime and looking to plead guilty except insane? Before entering in your plea, there are things to know. A mentally ill defense requires strong proof that at the time of the criminal act, the mental disorder was so severe, that you didn’t fully understand that the criminal act was […]
Can a Mentally Ill Person be Held by Police Without Arrest?
Typically, a mentally ill defendant who is arrested in Arizona is taken into custody by the police, processed into jail, and then promptly charged with a crime before a judge. The police cannot hold a mentally ill person indefinitely without arrest. However, Arizona law allows the authorities to hold a mentally ill person against his […]
Drug Diversion Programs in Arizona Report Success
Drug diversion programs are not new but they are becoming increasingly popular in Arizona and other states. These programs provide mental health and substance abuse help for defendants who may otherwise end up behind bars. Pima County in Arizona became one of the most recent places in the state to adopt drug diversion programs. A […]
Arizona U.S. Marshal Killing Highlights Gaps in Mental Health Safety Net
The criminal justice and mental health services in Arizona often fail to help people with psychological problems until it’s too late. Recently, police said they struggled to deal with death threats from a man accused of killing a deputy U.S. marshal. Ryan Schlesinger is the suspect in the killing of 41-year-old Chase White last November. […]
Restoration to Competency Cases Remain Controversial in Arizona
Restoration to Competency, or RTC, is a process in which a judge decides whether a person with mental disabilities is fit to face trial. The deliberations associated with restoration to competency help the courts make a crucial decision. When a defendant is deemed competent, he or she can face incarceration and even the death penalty. […]
Outlining Arizona’s Unlawful Flight Laws
Failing to stop after being requested to by a police officer or fleeing from police form part of Arizona’s unlawful flight laws. These offenses vary in seriousness. You can be charged with a Class 5 felony in certain circumstances. Failure to stop for a police officer or another law enforcement vehicle constitutes a crime under […]
Is Shoplifting a Misdemeanor or a Felony in Arizona?
Many people who are charged with shoplifting don’t take the offense seriously. They assume they will get a slap on the wrists and a fine. However, shoplifting in Arizona can be charged as a felony in certain circumstances. It’s vital to take the offense seriously and to hire an experienced Phoenix criminal defense lawyer if […]
When Can you Fall Foul of Arizona’s Gun Control Laws?
Arizona has some of the most liberal gun laws in the United States. However, its reputation for having few rules can land some people in trouble with the law. There are restrictions and many people fall foul of Arizona’s gun control laws. Under Arizona law, any person 21 years or older, who is not a […]
