Did you Know? Arizona has Some of the Best Mental Illness Laws in the Nation
Mental health awareness continues to grow in the United States, and with that, more options for help and treatment become available. Luckily, in Arizona, there are laws that help the mentally ill get the treatment they need. Arizona mental health and illness laws In Arizona, people have the ability to keep potentially dangerous people from […]
Options for Mentally Ill Offenders That Don’t Involve Jail
Many Americans with mental illness end up in jails and prisons each year. They also tend to spend longer terms in prison and end up back in prison costing local jurisdictions more money. They are typically jailed for nonviolent reasons and end up lacking the treatment they need. So what are other options for the […]
What Does a Mental Health Evaluation Process Include?
A mental health evaluation is conducted by physicians to get an overall picture of how your mental health is. They’ll test how well you’re able to think, reason and remember by asking you questions and examining you either vocally or in writing. They will assess how you look, your mood, behavior, thinking, reasoning, memory and […]
How to Deal with your First DUI
Have you been charged with your first DUI? If you find yourself consumed with feelings of fear or confusion stemming from your recent arrest, you’re not alone. Hundreds of people were arrested for DUI in Arizona during 2015, a trend that has not slowed well into the new year. Should you ever find yourself accused […]
Police Shoot and Kill Man Throwing Rocks at Police Station
On December 28th 2015, police shot and killed Lonnie Nelson at the Phoenix Police Department. Nelson was seen throwing “bricks or rocks” at Phoenix Police Department property including a patrol car and the station itself. Nelson was shot when he threw a brick at the officer confronting him. The projectile missed hitting the officer directly, […]
Breaking Down Your Arizona Probation Terms
If you have been sentenced to probation in Arizona, you may be confused by the fact your judge gave you a timeline of something between 18-24 months of probation. Probation terms in Arizona dictate that a judge can sentence an offender to time frame of probation instead of a specific number of months. Review of […]
Woman Who Crashed Through Sky Harbor Gate Sentenced
You may recall hearing the story of a 24-year-old woman crashing her car into a Sky Harbor International Airport security gate. Back in November of 2012, when Koko Nicole Anderson crashed through the gate with her infant son, the public and media instantly slammed her, labeling her a terrorist and insane. However, with counsel from […]
Police Union Lobby’s for New Legislation Around Rule 11
When a defendant is on trial and claims mentally incompetent, they undergo a trial under what’s known as Rule 11. Rule 11 is a two-part test that sees if the defendant is mentally competent to go through trial proceedings, understand them, and assist in their own defense. This is different than a defense claiming insanity. If […]
Understanding Arizona’s Rule 11
In the state of Arizona, mentally ill defendants have a right under Rule 11 to be examined for mental fitness concerning trial. If the defendant is suspected to be mentally incompetent, meaning unable to understand trial proceedings and assist in their defense, they will undergo a Rule 11 hearing. There must be substantial evidence of […]
