How Mental Health Impacts Pinellas County Criminal Charges

Mental health disorders can impact your mood, sense of judgment, and general behavior. While it can influence certain types of criminal behavior, it can also make you more likely to face injustices in the Florida criminal court system. Our Seminole criminal attorney shatters common myths and explains the real impacts mental health disorders can have on Pinellas County criminal charges.

 Mental Health Disorders Do Not Make You More Likely To Commit Crimes 

According to the Florida Hospital Association (FHA), over three million people in the Sunshine State suffer from some type of mental health disorder. This represents close to 20 percent of all residents and ranks us number one in the country. Common types of mental health disorders in Florida include:

• Depression;
• Bipolar disorder;
• Generalized anxiety;
• Panic attacks;
• Post-traumatic stress disorder;
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder.

While all of these can have major impacts on your judgment, reasoning, and behavior, they do not mean that you are more likely to commit a crime.  In fact, the National Institutes of Health show that people with mental illnesses are generally less likely to engage in aggressive or violent behavior.

However, the NIH also reports that they are frequently targeted by police when a crime is committed and that their mental health is more likely to impact their ability to get a strong criminal defense. This means they are more likely to have a criminal record, which could work against them both in the community and when dealing with the court.

Protecting Yourself Against Criminal Charges In Pinellas County When You Have A Mental Health Disorder

While much of the stigma surrounding certain mental health issues is gone today, it can still impact your ability to get an education, obtain full-time employment, or find suitable housing. This type of instability can make criminal behavior, such as vagrancy, prostitution, shoplifting, and other types of theft, more likely to happen.

When facing any type of criminal charges in Pinellas, it is particularly important for people with mental health disorders to obtain legal help. While an insanity defense is rarely applicable, other ways in which your condition can impact your charges include:

• As a result of your condition, you may require competency tests to determine whether you can stand trial and aid in your defense;
• Your mental health disorder could be considered a mitigating factor in causing the crime to happen, reducing your culpability;
• People with mental health disorders may be referred to diversion programs that better address underlying issues;
• Your condition could entitle you to care in specialized settings, preventing you from having to serve a jail sentence.

For A Strong Defense, Contact Our Pinellas Criminal Attorney Today

At The Reep Law Firm, we are strong allies for people with mental health disorders, protecting them against Florida’s harsh criminal justice system. Our Seminole criminal attorney provides the caring support and strong legal defense you need when facing Pinellas County criminal charges. To request a consultation, call or contact our office online today.

Sources:

fha.org/common/Uploaded%20files/FHA/Health%20Care%20Issues/Updated%20Briefs%200525/Issue%20Brief%20on%20Behavioral%20Health%20Data%20Profile%20for%20Florida%20FINAL.pdf

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537064/