The Connection Between Drug Crimes and Mental Health
Your criminal attorney is more than just a legal advisor – they’re an important ally in the fight for justice. This is especially true when mental health issues intersect with drug crime allegations. In California’s criminal justice system, a skilled defense attorney can make a significant difference in the outcome of a case.
Your attorney is there to ensure that your rights are protected and to present a defense that accurately represents your mental health status. Your attorney will craft a legal defense strategy that takes into account the full scope of your circumstances. That way, they can negotiate with prosecutors for reduced charges and alternative sentencing that may include mental health treatment.
How Drug Crimes and Mental Health Are Linked
Psychological factors play a significant role in the prevalence of drug abuse, which can lead to drug-related criminal activity. Mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder often coexist with substance abuse.
People with untreated mental health conditions may turn to drugs as a form of self-medication, attempting to alleviate their symptoms. This behavior might include possessing, distributing, or manufacturing illegal substances. Recognizing these underlying psychological factors helps defense attorneys provide their clients with the most effective representation and to advocate for alternatives to incarceration, such as treatment programs that address the root causes of the problem.
Drug offenses often result from the impaired decision-making that accompanies mental disorders. These impairments can range from an inability to comprehend the consequences of one’s actions to the compulsion to use or sell drugs as a way to cope with their mental state.
Defense attorneys must consider the presence of a mental illness when building a case, as it can influence the charges and the sentencing. To help their clients stay out of jail and get the treatment they really need, an effective criminal defense attorney must advocate for mental health support to alleviate their client’s underlying issues.
How Untreated Mental Illness Leads to Illegal Behavior
Untreated mental illnesses severely affect a person’s ability to make sound decisions. This often leads to impulsive behavior that results in criminal activity, including drug offenses. Conditions such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia may disrupt a person’s judgment, making it difficult to foresee the consequences of one’s actions or to resist immediate gratification or relief that drugs might promise.
A drug user’s impulsive behavior may lead to risky behaviors like drug use or engaging in illegal drug trade. To provide a comprehensive legal strategy, defense attorneys will want to inform the court how these mental health challenges have influenced their client’s actions.
Self-medication is a common response to untreated mental illness, and this often leads to addiction. Because effective treatment is not always available, addicts may turn to illegal substances to relieve their distress. When defending clients against drug charges, defense attorneys must highlight this connection and advocate for treatment-focused alternatives rather than incarceration.
Establishing Mental Health as a Legal Defense in California
In California, the legal system has specific standards that have to be met for mental health to be considered a viable defense. Defense attorneys must demonstrate that at the time of the crime, the defendant was suffering from a mental disorder that significantly impaired their ability to understand the nature of their actions or distinguish between right and wrong. The defense must also show a direct link between the mental illness and the drug-related offense.
Defendants often encounter significant obstacles to accessing mental health treatment because the criminal defense system primarily focuses on punishment rather than rehabilitation. In California, this issue is compounded by the high demand and limited availability of treatment programs, resulting in long wait times for those in need.
When it comes to sentencing alternatives, defense attorneys must advocate for mental health diversion programs that aim to treat the defendant’s mental illness instead of imposing prison time. These programs often involve supervised treatment plans, and they may result in charges being dropped after the defendant has successfully completed their treatment and other sentencing requirements.
How Your Criminal Defense Attorney Can Help
Your attorney serves as your advocate and guide through the difficult California legal system. Drug offenses carry severe penalties including heavy fines and serious jail time.
An experienced Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer will fight to ensure that you have access to the best option treatment options, such as California’s Mental Health Diversion program. It’s better for everyone when addiction issues are addressed in a manner that supports the defendant’s mental health, laying the groundwork for recovery and reducing the risk of future involvement with the criminal justice system.
Los Angeles Drug Crime Attorneys Can Help You with Drug Charges
Werksman Jackson & Quinn LLP is one of most esteemed criminal defense law firms in the nation. We’ve successfully defended clients in a number of high-profile cases. In fact, our firm has been featured on Fox News, CNBC, ABC News, the BBC, Esquire, and the Los Angeles Times.
The independent rating agency Super Lawyers gives Werksman Jackson & Quinn LLP high marks for providing clients with outstanding service, and we have an AV Rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
Call (213) 688-0460 to schedule your case review today with one of our experienced Los Angeles drug crime attorneys.
Contact Us
“We can handle any criminal case.
Anywhere. Anytime.”
What Our Clients Say
Previous Testimonial Next Testimonial- “Alan Jackson is hands down the best attorney we have worked with. Extremely professional, well liked in the court system and respected amongst all legal professionals. Took our calls at any given time and made himself available all the time.” - S.F. From Google Reviews
- “Perpetually impressed by the professionalism, thoroughness, follow through, and expertise that Mark Werksman, his fellow partners, and associates / admin staff all produce whenever I interact with them, professionally.” - Dru S.
- “Kelly is a brainiac. She's a certified criminal law appellate specialist - a rare achievement and qualification- and she fits into a very unique niche in criminal law. Her primary role at her firm (one of, if not THE best criminal defense firm in los angeles) is research and writer...” - Joseph W.
- “Having Alan Jackson as my lead attorney on 3 separate cases (one felony, and two misdemeanors) was the best decision of my life. I was facing 6-8 years in prison, and he was able to have all three charges dismissed. He's got the skills, connections, and the charisma to aid anyone in any situation...” - Anonymous